Luck versus Effort Attributions

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Abstract
This study examined whether reward allocations differ as a function of an external-unstable versus an internal-unstable performance attribution. Male and female college students' attribution for success at a sex-neutral task was set at either luck or effort by individual random assignment. Subjects participated in same-sex dyads but were kept isolated from one another. All received feedback that they had contributed higher input than their partner and had been randomly chosen to apportion a group reward. The primary dependent variable was amount of reward allocated to self As predicted, a significant main effect for attribution type was found whereby subjects allocated more to themselves when they attributed their success to effort than to luck. Under these conditions, the allocation behavior of males and females was similar. The frequency with which allocators employed each of three allocation norms (equity, compromise, equality) also differed as a function of attribution type.

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