A group-administered paper-pencil measure of delay discounting: A replication

Beck and Triplett (2009) developed a procedure for measuring delay discounting with the goal of incorporating the best aspects and addressing the shortcomings of the binary-choice and fill-in-the-blank methods for measuring delay discounting. Despite the positive findings for Beck and Triplett's measure, it has not been replicated. The goal of the current study was to replicate Test 1 of Beck and Triplett's study and to provide evidence for the utility of their measure. This study included 190 undergraduate participants. Data from 86% of the sample met the discounting criteria; however, only 70% of participants' data was fit well with the hyperbolic discounting model. The current study found the predicted relation between the Cognitive Complexity factor of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 and discounting, but not Cognitive Instability and discounting. Though all of Beck and Triplett's findings were not replicated, this study supports the use of their measure.