Effects of technology on attributions of performance and employee evaluation

This study examines the effects of technological automation on explanations of why a person failed or succeeded at. a task, and on evaluations of the user of technology. Subjects were presented with scenarios involving a phot ographer on an assignment. The scenarios manipulated 3 variables: (a) wheth er the camera was automatic or required skill, (b) experience level, and (c ) whether the picture was a success or a failure. Subjects rated the pictur e's success or failure on attributions of ability and the technology. They also evaluated the photographer. Internal attribution was associated with t echnological devices requiring a greater amount of skill, while external at tribution was associated with technological devices requiring less skill. W hen the picture was a success, ratings of internal attributions correlated positively with evaluations. When the picture was a failure, ratings of int ernal attributions correlated negatively with evaluations.