Question 1

According to Weiner's attribution theory, which of the following is an unstable, internal cause of achievement outcomes?

Accepted Answer

According to Weiner's attribution theory, effort is an unstable, internal cause of achievement outcomes because it can vary from one situation to another and can be modified through practice or experience. The other options - ability, task difficulty, and luck - are stable or external causes that are beyond an individual's control.

Question 2

According to Weiner's attribution theory, which of the following is said to be a stable cause for an achievement outcome?

Accepted Answer

Weiner's attribution theory classifies causes of achievement outcomes into stable and unstable factors. Effort and luck are considered unstable causes, as they can vary from one situation to another. Stable causes would include factors like ability or task difficulty.

Question 3

One's achievement behavior in specific achievement situations depends on

Accepted Answer

One's achievement behavior is influenced by a combination of their level of achievement motivation, the value they place on the goal they are pursuing, and their expectancy of succeeding or failing. Therefore, all three options (A, B, and C) are correct and the best choice is D, which includes all of them.

Question 4

Which of the following statements best characterizes the "competitive" orientation of a 4-5-year-old?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following statements best characterizes...

Question 5

According to Weiner's cognitive theory of achievement, a person's future achievement behavior in a particular domain depends very heavily on his/her

Accepted Answer

According to Weiner's cognitive theory of achievement, a person's future achievement behavior in a particular domain depends very heavily on his/her causal attributions for past performance in that domain. This means that the individual's beliefs about why they succeeded or failed in the past in that particular domain will heavily influence their motivation and behavior in that area in the future. Factors such as general intelligence, achievement motivation, and motivation to avoid failure may also influence achievement behavior but not as strongly as causal attributions.

Question 6

Which of the following represents an internal, unstable attribution for a grade?

Accepted Answer

Option C ("If I had studied more I'd have done better.") is an internal, unstable attribution because it attributes the cause of the grade to something about the self (internal) that can change over time (unstable), such as the amount of effort put into studying.

Question 7

Raynor's (1970) classic study of the grades students make in introductory psychology revealed that the relationship between achievement motivation (M_s) and achievement behavior (grades earned) was more likely to be positive when

Accepted Answer

Raynor's study found that the relationship between achievement motivation and behavior was more likely to be positive when the student's motive to attain success was stronger than the motive to avoid failure, and when the student perceived the course as important or valuable. Choice E combines both of these factors, making it the best answer.

Question 8

Linda has failed an important geography exam and attributes her failure to a lack of ability in geography. In terms of Weiner's attribution theory, Linda has made a(n) _____ causal attribution.

Accepted Answer

Linda has attributed her failure to lack of ability, which is a personal and relatively enduring trait (stable) that she believes caused the failure (internal).

Question 9

McClelland's cross-cultural research (reported in his book The Achieving Society) led him to conclude that

Accepted Answer

McClelland's research suggested that the level of achievement motivation within a society is a significant predictor of that society's economic growth. He argued that societies with higher average achievement motivation tend to experience more rapid economic development.

Question 10

After failing on important math test, Fred seeks a causal attribution for his performance. To what might he attribute this failure and have the best chance of feeling that he will do well on subsequent exams?

Accepted Answer

By attributing the failure to not studying enough, Fred can make a plan to study more for future exams and feel confident that his effort will pay off in better results. Option A would lead Fred to feel helpless or hopeless about future exams, while Option B would lead him to believe that success relies on luck rather than effort. Option D may be true, but it does not offer a solution for future success.

Question 11

According to Atkinson's revision of McClelland's "need achievement" theory, a person who willingly accepts new challenges and who accomplishes a lot is someone for whom

Accepted Answer

Atkinson's theory suggests that individuals with a high need for achievement (M_S) and a low fear of failure (M_af) are more likely to take on challenges and achieve a lot.

Question 12

Early work on the relationship between achievement motivation and achievement behavior revealed that

Accepted Answer

Early work on the relationship between achievement motivation and achievement behavior showed that people high in achievement motivation tend to select higher status occupations than low need-achievers, as well as make better grades in school. However, there is no evidence to support that a country's prior economic growth predicts the average level of achievement motivation in the current generation of children. Therefore, option A and C are incorrect, and option E is not the best choice.

Question 13

According to Weiner's attribution theory, which of the following achievement attributions will lead to the highest expectancy of repeating a success we've accomplished?

Accepted Answer

Weiner's attribution theory posits that achievement attributions that are internal (i.e., related to one's ability) and stable (i.e., likely to persist over time) lead to the highest expectancy of repeating a success. Saying "I did well because I'm good at this task" reflects an internal and stable attribution, indicating that one's success is due to inherent ability rather than external factors that may not be present in future situations (such as studying hard, studying the right material, or an unambiguous test). Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

Question 14

A person who dreads being evaluated and is highly concerned about the prospect of failing is _____.

Accepted Answer

A person who is highly concerned about the prospect of failing is high in the motive to avoid failure. The need for achievement refers to a person's desire for success and accomplishment, which is not necessarily related to fear of failure. The motive to avoid success is the fear of achieving success, which is different from fear of failure. Therefore, option B is the best choice.

Question 15

A child who believes that her grades at school depend on luck, fate, or whether her teachers "like her"

Accepted Answer

The child's belief that her grades depend on luck or external factors beyond her control is indicative of an external locus of control. Therefore, she could be described as an externalizer. This belief may also undermine her motivation and effort towards achieving good grades.

Question 16

According to Weiner's attribution theory, the stability of an achievement attribution determines one's _____ in a given achievement domain.

Accepted Answer

Weiner's attribution theory posits that the stability of an achievement attribution (i.e., whether the cause of the achievement is perceived as stable or unstable) influences the individual's expectancy of success or failure in a given domain. Specifically, if the attribution for a success is perceived as stable (e.g., due to ability or effort), then the individual is more likely to expect success in the future; if the attribution for a failure is perceived as stable (e.g., due to lack of ability or poor luck), then the individual is more likely to expect failure in the future. Therefore, the stability of the attribution is directly related to the individual's expectancy of success or failure in the given domain.

Question 17

Weiner believes that the perceived stability of an achievement outcome determines _____ , whereas the perceived locus of control for that outcome determines _____ .

Accepted Answer

Weiner's attribution theory suggests that perceived stability affects one's achievement expectancies, while perceived locus of control affects the value of the outcome.

Question 18

In a review of over 100 studies, Findley and Cooper found that students who attribute their successes to internal causes such as ability rather than external causes such as luck tend to

Accepted Answer

The review of studies found that students who attribute their successes to internal causes such as ability tend to do well academically. This suggests that believing in one's own abilities and skills can have a positive impact on academic performance.

Question 19

Atkinson's theory of achievement implies that a person who shys away from challenges and who accomplishes very little is apt to be someone

Accepted Answer

According to Atkinson's theory, a person who shys away from challenges and accomplishes very little is likely to have a stronger motive to avoid failure than to attain success. This person may fear failure and thus avoid challenging situations where failure is possible. This fear of failure may be stronger than their desire for success, leading to a lack of accomplishment. Therefore, choice C is the best option.

Question 20

Whereas McClelland attributed individual differences in achievement behavior to differences in _____, Atkinson suggested that achievement behavior also depends on the person's _____.

Accepted Answer

McClelland attributed individual differences in achievement behavior to differences in achievement motivation, while Atkinson suggested that achievement behavior also depends on the person's achievement expectancies (belief about likelihood of success) and the value of the objective. Atkinson also introduced the concept of need for achievement, which is similar to McClelland's achievement motivation but emphasizes the importance of specific achievable goals. Choice A is close but misses the aspect of achievement expectancies and objective value. Choice C is incorrect because Atkinson did not suggest that all achievement behavior is motivated by a fear of failure. Choice D is incorrect because it suggests that achievement motivation and fear of failure are opposing forces when they actually work together in Atkinson's model.

Quiz 7: Achievement

According to Weiner's attribution theory, which of the following is an unstable, internal cause of achievement outcomes?

According to Weiner's attribution theory, which of the following is said to be a stable cause for an achievement outcome?

One's achievement behavior in specific achievement situations depends on

Which of the following statements best characterizes the "competitive" orientation of a 4-5-year-old?

According to Weiner's cognitive theory of achievement, a person's future achievement behavior in a particular domain depends very heavily on his/her

Which of the following represents an internal, unstable attribution for a grade?

Raynor's (1970) classic study of the grades students make in introductory psychology revealed that the relationship between achievement motivation (M_s) and achievement behavior (grades earned) was more likely to be positive when

Linda has failed an important geography exam and attributes her failure to a lack of ability in geography. In terms of Weiner's attribution theory, Linda has made a(n) _____ causal attribution.

McClelland's cross-cultural research (reported in his book The Achieving Society) led him to conclude that

After failing on important math test, Fred seeks a causal attribution for his performance. To what might he attribute this failure and have the best chance of feeling that he will do well on subsequent exams?

According to Atkinson's revision of McClelland's "need achievement" theory, a person who willingly accepts new challenges and who accomplishes a lot is someone for whom

Early work on the relationship between achievement motivation and achievement behavior revealed that

According to Weiner's attribution theory, which of the following achievement attributions will lead to the highest expectancy of repeating a success we've accomplished?

A person who dreads being evaluated and is highly concerned about the prospect of failing is _____.

A child who believes that her grades at school depend on luck, fate, or whether her teachers "like her"

According to Weiner's attribution theory, the stability of an achievement attribution determines one's _____ in a given achievement domain.

Weiner believes that the perceived stability of an achievement outcome determines _ , whereas the perceived locus of control for that outcome determines _ .

In a review of over 100 studies, Findley and Cooper found that students who attribute their successes to internal causes such as ability rather than external causes such as luck tend to

Atkinson's theory of achievement implies that a person who shys away from challenges and who accomplishes very little is apt to be someone

Whereas McClelland attributed individual differences in achievement behavior to differences in _, Atkinson suggested that achievement behavior also depends on the person's _.

Quiz 7: Achievement

According to Weiner's attribution theory, which of the following is an unstable, internal cause of achievement outcomes?

According to Weiner's attribution theory, which of the following is said to be a stable cause for an achievement outcome?

One's achievement behavior in specific achievement situations depends on

Which of the following statements best characterizes the "competitive" orientation of a 4-5-year-old?

According to Weiner's cognitive theory of achievement, a person's future achievement behavior in a particular domain depends very heavily on his/her

Which of the following represents an internal, unstable attribution for a grade?

Raynor's (1970) classic study of the grades students make in introductory psychology revealed that the relationship between achievement motivation (Ms) and achievement behavior (grades earned) was more likely to be positive when

Linda has failed an important geography exam and attributes her failure to a lack of ability in geography. In terms of Weiner's attribution theory, Linda has made a(n) _____ causal attribution.

McClelland's cross-cultural research (reported in his book The Achieving Society) led him to conclude that

After failing on important math test, Fred seeks a causal attribution for his performance. To what might he attribute this failure and have the best chance of feeling that he will do well on subsequent exams?

According to Atkinson's revision of McClelland's "need achievement" theory, a person who willingly accepts new challenges and who accomplishes a lot is someone for whom

Early work on the relationship between achievement motivation and achievement behavior revealed that

According to Weiner's attribution theory, which of the following achievement attributions will lead to the highest expectancy of repeating a success we've accomplished?

A person who dreads being evaluated and is highly concerned about the prospect of failing is _____.

A child who believes that her grades at school depend on luck, fate, or whether her teachers "like her"

According to Weiner's attribution theory, the stability of an achievement attribution determines one's _____ in a given achievement domain.

Weiner believes that the perceived stability of an achievement outcome determines _____ , whereas the perceived locus of control for that outcome determines _____ .

In a review of over 100 studies, Findley and Cooper found that students who attribute their successes to internal causes such as ability rather than external causes such as luck tend to

Atkinson's theory of achievement implies that a person who shys away from challenges and who accomplishes very little is apt to be someone

Whereas McClelland attributed individual differences in achievement behavior to differences in _____, Atkinson suggested that achievement behavior also depends on the person's _____.

Raynor's (1970) classic study of the grades students make in introductory psychology revealed that the relationship between achievement motivation (M_s) and achievement behavior (grades earned) was more likely to be positive when

Weiner believes that the perceived stability of an achievement outcome determines _ , whereas the perceived locus of control for that outcome determines _ .

Whereas McClelland attributed individual differences in achievement behavior to differences in _, Atkinson suggested that achievement behavior also depends on the person's _.