Self-Esteem, Need for Approval and Self-Estimates of Academic Performance

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Abstract
This paper presents a replication and extension of prior studies that have shown both low self-esteem and high need for approval to be related to underestimation of academic performance. The Coopersmith Self-esteem Inventory and Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale were administered to 67 college students who later estimated their examination grade after taking the final examination in an introductory psychology course. Students with low self-esteem and low school self-esteem did estimate getting lower grades, even with actual grade controlled by covariance. Students with high vs low need for approval showed no difference in estimated grade. However, in a multiple regression analysis with, estimated grade as the criterion, the multiple correlation coefficient did increase when social desirability score was added to the equation after self-esteem score. These results are discussed in light of methodological differences in the prior studies and in terms of the psychological processes involved in estimating a grade.

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