Attributional versus Persuasive Messages and Explanations for Task Performance
The present study investigated the effects of manipulating the content of a message (effort vs ability) and the style of a message (attributional vs persuasive) on the causal attributions an individual makes concerning his performance on a perceptual motor task. It was hypothesized that subjects receiving an attributional message would report either effort or ability, corresponding to the content of the message they received, as having a greater influence on their behavior than individuals who received a persuasive message. Subjects receiving an attributional message of ability saw luck as less important than subjects who received an attributional message of effort. In contrast, subjects who received a persuasive message of ability saw luck as being more important than effort. All other effects were nonsignificant.