The confidence of choice: Evidence for an augmentation effect on self-perceived performance

Past research suggests that choice in deciding the features of a task can e nhance performance. Independent of the quality of performance, choice may a lso increase the actor's confidence by providing a secondary source of subj ective control during the task. In two studies designed to examine this aug mentation hypothesis, college students were asked to read and understand a short story Study I revealed that those who selected names to be used in th e story felt more confident about their performance than did those who were assigned names, although the groups in fact performed equally. Study 2 rev ealed that the enhancement was not due to anticipatory confidence arguing a gainst the possibility that choice was operating as a performance cue. The findings are interpreted in relation to perceived control and implications for motivation and competence are discussed.