The Taylor Aggression Paradigm (TAP) is a frequently-used laboratory measure of aggressive behavior. However, the flexibility inherent in its implementation and analysis can undermine its validity. To test whether the TAP was a valid aggression measure irrespective of this flexibility, I conducted a preregistered study of a 25-trial version of the TAP using a single scoring approach with 160 diverse undergraduate participants. TAP scores showed agreement with other laboratory aggression measures and were magnified by an experimental provocation manipulation. Mixed evidence was found for associations with aggressive dispositions and real-world violence. These results provide preliminary support for this approach to the TAP to measure state-level aggressive behavior. However, more evidence is needed to assess the TAP’s external validity and ability to measure dispositional forms of aggression. Using preregistered designs, researchers should validate specific variants of their behavioral tasks in order to optimize the veridicality and reproducibility of psychological science.
The Pro-Environmental Behavior Task: A laboratory measure of actual pro-environmental behavior
