The Effectiveness of Training to Improve Person Perception Accuracy: A Meta-Analysis

Making accurate perceptions of others is a valuable skill. This meta-analysis examines whether accurate person perception is a skill amenable to training in nonclinical adult populations and, if training can increase accuracy, what are the most effective training methods. Across person perception domains, training interventions significantly increased accuracy. Training approach mattered more than length of training. Practice and feedback were more effective approaches than instruction alone; however, a combination of training approaches was the most effective intervention. Results of this meta-analysis advance person perception theory and offer practical advice for future development of trainings to increase person perception accuracy.