The Effect of Accuracy of Performance Evaluation on Learning From Experience: The Moderating Role of After-Event Reviews

Two studies (one field, one experimental) found that the more accurately individuals evaluated their performance, the better they performed on a subsequent task. The first study also found that the more individuals overestimated their previous performance, the lower was their performance on the next task. In contrast, the evaluation accuracy of the underestimators was unrelated to their subsequent performance. The second study found that when participants received feedback from an external authority, the effect of the inaccuracy of self-performance evaluation on subsequent performance was reduced. The results of the 2 studies are explained in motivational and cognitive terms.