The Role of Different Spoiler Types in the Experience of Short Stories

Research conducted to understand the influence of spoilers on the enjoyment of short stories has produced mixed results. In this study, we examined whether different types of spoilers had a systematic effect on the experience of short stories. In addition, we measured individual-differences among our participants, including need for cognition, need for closure, and print exposure, to explore how these might moderate the influence of spoilers. We also manipulated the delay between when a spoiler was presented and when a story was read. College students (n = 326) read three published short stories with surprise or twist endings, one unspoiled, one spoiled by providing a plausible thematic interpretation, and another spoiled by providing critical elements of the plot and the ending. In general, spoilers had no significant effects on enjoyment or other aspects of the experience of the stories, nor did the delay manipulation. Need for cognition was positively predictive of a more positive experience and need for closure was positively related to experienced suspense, but neither of these variables nor print exposure interacted significantly with spoiler-type.