Reactions to cognitive ability tests: The relationships between race, test performance, face validity perceptions, and test-taking motivation.
Open accessAbstract
The relationships among race, face validity perceptions, test-taking motivation, and test performance on a cognitive ability test were examined. Undergraduates completed 2 parallel cognitive ability tests and a test reactions measure. Results showed that test-taking motivation was related positively to subsequent performance on a parallel test even after the effects of race and performance on the first test were controlled. The effect of race on subsequent test performance was found to be mediated partially by motivation that provided evidence that some portion of the Black-White difference in test performance may be explained through differences in test-taking motivation. Results also indicated that Black-White differences in face validity perceptions of the test may be a function of Black-White differences in test performance. Face validity perceptions of the test affected subsequent performance on the parallel test but only indirectly through test-taking motivation.
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There is support that differences in motivation and face validity perceptions do mediate the relationship between ethnicity and performance.
“though there is support that these differences both do (Chan et al., 1997)”
From Factors Related to Mean Score Group Differences on Cognitive Ability Tests: A Systematic Review (2025) · cites this paper as Chan et al., 1997
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References 8 · Cited by 273
- Authors
- Chan, D., Schmitt, N., DeShon, R. P., Clause, C. S., & Delbridge, K.
- Affiliations
- Michigan State University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Applied Psychology
- Published
- 1997-04
- Volume
- 82
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 300-310
- ISSN
- 0021-9010 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1854
- OpenAlex
- W1995916849
- Cited by
- 273
- References
- 8
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 14.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Journal of Applied Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Singapore Management University Institutional Knowledge (InK) (Singapore Management University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
- Keywords
- cognitive ability tests, test-taking motivation, racial differences, black-white disparities, test performance, test reactions
- MeSH terms
- Achievement, Adult, Aptitude Tests, Attitude, Black or African American, Female, Humans, Intelligence Tests, Male, Motivation, Personnel Selection, White People
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