Based on an attributional model of achievement-related behavior, success of a young person and failure of an old person (expected outcomes) were predicted to be attributed to stable causes. Results are discussed in terms of conditions under which negative stereotypes concerning competency of the elderly exert influence. (Author)

This study investigated developmental trends in children's attributions for success and failure in achievement and social situations. Twenty-four second graders, 21 fourth graders, and 24 sixth graders were shown pictures and told accompanying stories depicting either social and achievement success or social and achievement failure. They were then…

The development of attributional patterns for male and female success and failure in sex-typed activities was examined. A total of 243 children in preschool, first, third, fifth, and eleventh grades were given a booklet of eight drawings, each of which depicted a young adolescent completing a task. The drawings varied on sex of actor, sex-typing…

Explored open-ended attributions for success and failure of relatively younger and older men in social and academic situations using between-subjects design. Findings from 109 college students showed that respondents were more likely to make attributions that combined age with other attributional categories than attributions solely to target's…

Age is often used to explain performances by older people that may be judged substandard in comparison with those of younger people. To explore age as a possible causal attribution, descriptions of task performances by young (aged 30) and old (aged 70) women were judged by young (N=352) and old (N=96) female subjects on four attributions, i.e.,…

Children, aged 9, 12, and 15, evaluated successes and failures of other children using information supplied about ability, effort, outcome, and sex. Several sex differences were found, particularly in the extent to which evaluations related to effort and outcome information. Findings are compared to those of American and Iranian studies.…

Male and female preschoolers and third graders (N=192) were asked to explain the success and failure of girls and boys on feminine and masculine tasks by choosing among four causal factors: ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck. (CM)

Children from a Catholic elementary school were interviewed to determine what they saw as probable causes for success or failure in four situations: a school testing situation an art project, playing football, and catching frogs. Causal explanations were found to differ across the four situations. (Author/GDC)

Examined age differences in attributions for self-reported successes and failures in important and daily situations. Attributions and affects were collected from 61 young, 21 middle-aged, and 15 older adults. Middle-aged and older adults were more likely than young adults to attribute failure to external causes and to describe more social than…

The social psychology literature largely ignores attribution patterns made by both sexes of differing generations on an activity with salience for both sexes. "Parenting" is an activity with such salience. In estimating parental success for stimulus situations involving parent-child interactions, undergraduates and their parents were virtually…

Reviews the findings of Lehman's study of age and outstanding occupational achievement along with the explanations of why major contributions most likely occur in young adulthood. Proposes an alternative explanation based on the central developmental tasks facing individuals in young adulthood and middle age. (JAC)

The purpose of this study was to clarify the age of emergence of differential attributions for the success and failure of girls and boys on feminine and masculine tasks. Subjects were 192 children attending either preschool or third grade. From this group 6 boys and 6 girls from each grade level were randomly assigned to one of eight conditions…

How children's achievement attributions were influenced by age, attentional focus, and success/failure was studied in 151 students in grades two, three, five, and six. For older children, self-focus enhanced internal attributions for success, while task-focusing did so for younger children, who were more likely to attribute success/failure to…

Research into learners' attributions for their successes and failures has received considerable attention. However, very little research has been carried out in the area of learning foreign languages. This study is timely in view of the current interest by the government in promoting foreign languages. The aims of the study were (1) to investigate…

A study explored the causes cited by British primary school students for instances of relative success and failure in class work in a free-response setting. The study involved 157 7-, 9-, and 11-year old students in 2 primary schools. Because the 7-year-olds were reluctant to talk about their own work, children were asked to talk about the reasons…