How do Incremental and Entity Theorists Perceive the Relationship between Other’s Effort and Outcome?

Implicit theory is a naïve theory which refers to malleability of intelligence. Some studies revealed that entity theorists (who believe intelligence is fixed) are more likely to evaluate a person’s ability just by a single outcome than incremental theorists (who believe intelligence is malleable). However, it is still unclear to what extent they take information about the person’s effort into consideration for their ability evaluation. In the present study, we aimed to examine how incremental and entity theorists perceive the relationship between a person’s effort and outcome. We presented a vignette of a figure who is preparing for exam to the participants, in which we manipulated (1) the amount of effort the figure made and (2) whether the figure’s grades improved or not. We measured to what extent participants would attribute the outcome to the figure’s ability and effort, and how much effort they would request to the figure for his future performance. As a result, entity theorists attributed the outcome to the figure’s ability when his grades improved without effort or didn’t improve despite his effort. Also, entity theorists requested further effort when his grades didn’t improve with no effort. On the other hand, incremental theorists didn’t attribute the outcome to the figure’s ability regardless of whether he made effort or not and whether his grades improved or not. They required further effort only when the figure didn’t make effort. Results suggested that entity theorists evaluate other’s ability not just by outcome, but pay attention to his/her effort.