Lack of effort-perceived controllability of need for help-anger-neglect and lack of ability-perceived uncontrollability-pity-help form two constellations. There was also evidence of an attribution-affect-action motivational sequence, in which thoughts determine what we feel and feelings determine what we do. (Author/CP)

This study evaluated the hypothesis that affective components of creativity (attitudes, values, interest, motivations) may be strengthened in a university creativity course. A two-group, two-test design was used. For each class, the after-training creativity test scores were significantly higher than the before-training scores of the other class.…

Kelley's cube model of causal inferences was investigated by relating high and low students' attributions to reported affect and expectations. Low and high scoring students clustered in different cells of the cube. Predictions concerning estimates of distinctiveness, consistency, and consensus and their relation to affect and expectations were…

College students learning they had done well or poorly on an examination were asked to evaluate the cause of the outcome, describe affective reactions, and estimate expectations about future test performances. Results support the contention that academic failure needn't lead to losses in achievement motivation, depression, or frustration.…

Students learned teaching principles either with or without (control group) the presentation of a classroom exemplar in video or text format. Across 2 experiments, the video group produced higher transfer scores and affective ratings than the other groups. Four weeks later, the video group recalled more information about the exemplar than the text…

Weiner's allegations of errors in testing his theory (presumed detrimental effects of investigating a restricted range of variables, use of expectancy changes as a mediating variable, and presumed inappropriateness of classroom performance as a dependent variable) are evaluated. Disconfirmation of Weiner's predictions occurs irrespective of…

College students predicted the situations which would produce the greatest affective result: academic success or failure, as caused by ability or by effort. Attributions to ability generated as much happiness, but less pride, in the case of success; and more unhappiness, but less shame, in the case of failure. (Author/GDC)

Weiner examines Sohn's previous article on attribution and affective reactions. Both researchers' data suggest that emotions in addition to pride and shame are experienced in achievement settings, and that these affects are not necessarily augmented by effort ascriptions. (Author/GDC)

Two experiments involving skilled readers (159 college students) explored the benefits to student attitude and content retention of adding emotional interest, through seductive text, or cognitive interest, through signals for structural understanding, to scientific text. Results support the benefits of cognitive over emotional interest. (SLD)

Undergraduates rated their affective reactions to hypothetical test failures under conditions of high or low effort and in the presence or absence of self-servicing excuses. Then, in the role of teachers, they administered punishment to hypothetical students under the same failure conditions. Results were interpreted using self-worth theory.…

Randomly selected instructors were given feedback from midterm student ratings and met with the authors to discuss the ratings and strategies for improvement. More favorable student ratings at the end of the term, better final examination scores, and more favorable affective outcomes resulted. (Author/RD)

College students attributed their own performance and the performance of the average student to ability, test difficulty, preparation, and luck. Successful students perceived internal factors and unsuccessful students perceived external factors as more important causes of their own performance. Students' anxiety and their ratings of the course and…

Undergraduates rated their affective reactions to hypothetical test performances under four success conditions. Then, in the role of teachers, they administered rewards to hypothetical students under identical conditions. Both positive self-evaluation and teacher praise were greatest when success followed effort. Perceptions of ability also…