Self-confidence and performance goal orientation interactively predict performance in a reasoning test with accuracy feedback

This study takes an individual differences' perspective on performance feedback effects in psychometric testing. A total of 105 students in a mainstream secondary school in North East England undertook a cognitive ability test on two occasions. In one condition, students received item-specific accuracy feedback while in the other (standard condition) no feedback was provided. While accuracy feedback had, on average, no effect on test performance, differential effects were observed. Performance goal orientation and self-confidence moderated feedback effects on performance. The provision of accuracy feedback seemed to have performance optimising effects upon test takers with high performance goal orientation in combination with low self-confidence. The implications of these findings in relation to the validity of findings from psychological testing are discussed.