The effects of selection systems and implicit theories on individual effort

Abstract

Although it is well known that implicit theories (beliefs regarding the malleability of human attributes) affect one’s motivation, less is known about how these effects manifest themselves in certain educational environments. This study investigated how implicit theories moderate the effects of selection systems, which are prevalent in educational settings, on individual effort. The results indicated that when entity theorists (people who think ability is fixed) who performed relatively well received negative feedback and were not selected, they exerted less effort compared with incremental theorists (people who think ability is malleable). The negative effects of selection systems on motivation might be amplified among entity theorists when they are faced with an undefeatable rival.