Factors underlying expectancies of success and achievement: the influential roles of need for cognition and general or specific self-concepts.
It has been assumed that task-specific self-concepts are more important than general self-concepts in determining expectancies of success and subsequent achievement. The authors argue here that the influence varies depending on need for cognition (NFC). Findings from Study 1 (N=104) showed that expectancies of success in an academic task could be predicted from specific self-concept for individuals with a high NFC and from general self-concept for individuals with a low NFC. In Study 2 (N=193), where cognitive load was manipulated, given a high cognitive load, only general self-concept was predictive of success expectancies, independent of NFC. In Study 3 (N=197), given a high relevance of correct expectancy ratings, only specific self-concept was predictive of expectancies and actual achievement, independent of NFC. In Studies 4 and 5, the results from Study 1 concerning the prediction of expectancies (as well as achievement) reappeared in a physical and a social domain.
Dickhäuser
Oliver
O
Institute of Psychology II, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nuremburg, Germany. oliver.dickhaeuser@ewf.uni-erlangen.de
Reinhard
Marc-André
MA
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003071:Cognition; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010551:Personality; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students