Interpreting performance information: Motivated reasoning or unbiased comprehension.

Baekgaard, Martin; Serritzlew, Søren

doi:10.1111/puar.12406

Cited by 188Public Policy and Administration ResearchElectoral Systems and Political ParticipationDecision-Making and Behavioral Economics

Interpreting performance information: Motivated reasoning or unbiased comprehension.

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Baekgaard, Martin, Serritzlew, Søren·2016·Public Administration Review

DOI 10.1111/puar.12406

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Abstract

A main rationale of performance information is to empower citizens to make informed decisions by presenting them with unambiguous information about the performance of institutions. However, even objective, clear, and unambiguous performance information is subject to biased interpretation depending on whether the information is consistent with the prior beliefs held by those who receive the information. Integrating the theory of motivated reasoning with the literature on performance information, the authors hypothesize that performance information that is inconsistent with prior beliefs is less likely to be interpreted correctly than belief‐consistent information. Using randomized survey experiments in which respondents were presented with quantitative performance data, the authors show that subjects systematically interpret performance information in ways that conform with their prior beliefs. The findings question the assumption that providing performance information automatically increases knowledge about government performance, let alone improves political decisions.

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Decision-makers assign greater weight to information congruent with prior beliefs and contest inputs that contradict them.
“They assign greater weight to information congruent with prior beliefs and contest inputs that contradict them”
From Human–AI Interactions in Public Sector Decision Making: “Automation Bias” and “Selective Adherence” to Algorithmic Advice (2023) · cites this paper as Baekgaard and Serritzlew 2016
The indexed Abstract reports that survey respondents interpreted performance information in ways that conformed with their prior beliefs, supporting the claim about favoring belief-consistent information. It does not establish that decision-makers actively contested contradictory inputs; its finding concerns respondents’ interpretation of performance data. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Decision-makers are prone to selectively seek and interpret information in light of preexisting stereotypes, beliefs, and social identities.
“Following a motivated reasoning logic, this growing body of literature has established that decision-makers are prone to selectively seek and interpret information in light of preexisting stereotypes, beliefs, and social identities.”
From Human–AI Interactions in Public Sector Decision Making: “Automation Bias” and “Selective Adherence” to Algorithmic Advice (2023) · cites this paper as Baekgaard and Serritzlew 2016
The available passages contain bibliographic metadata but no discussion of selective information seeking or interpretation. Searches for motivated reasoning, preexisting beliefs, stereotypes, and social identities returned no substantive passage from the paper, so our copy cannot verify the claim. (LLM, conf=0.76)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Authors: Baekgaard, M., & Serritzlew, S.
Affiliations: Aarhus University Denmark
Aarhus University (DK)
ORCID: Serritzlew, Søren
Venue: Public Administration Review
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2015-06-18
Volume: 76
Issue: 1
Pages: 73-82
ISSN: 0033-3352 (ISSN-L)
1540-6210
DOI: 10.1111/puar.12406
OpenAlex: W1900652424
Cited by: 188
References: 40
Citations by year: 2026: 14 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 3
FWCI: 43.30
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
pure.au.dk
Licence: other-oa
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Public Administration Review (publishedVersion)
Funders: The Independent Danish Research Council (11-104237)
Topics: Social Sciences › Public Administration › Public Policy and Administration Research
Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Electoral Systems and Political Participation
Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › General Decision Sciences › Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
Keywords: performance information, motivated reasoning, belief consistency, citizen decision-making, information interpretation, prior beliefs, government accountability, political decision-making

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