I performed well? I must be the cause! The effect of feedback quality on self-serving biases

Abstract

Self-serving bias represents one of the mechanisms for achieving and maintaining a positive self-image. This study was aimed to assess the effect of feedback positivity on self-serving attributions. A total of 120 participants, randomly assigned to four groups, took a spatial orientation test presented as an important indicator of intellectual ability. After each task, participants were given feedback on whether the answer was correct, so there were four experimental conditions: successful, neutral and unsuccessful group, whilst the control group received no feedback. Upon completing the test, respondents assessed: the importance of the measured ability, the validity of the test and the extent to which their performance was affected by internal and external factors. The groups differed in expected manner on all indicators and that participants exhibited both self-affirming tendencies (in successful and neutral group) and self-protective tendencies (in unsuccessful and no feedback group). Additionaly, the results demonstrated the importance of the employed experimental procedure: a. the task difficulty moderated in interpreting the outcome (50% correct answers on a difficult test is viewed as a success), and b. partialized feedback (given after each task) enhanced self-serving bias.