Achievement motivation and self-reported grade point average

Abstract

This experiment examined the impact of achievement motivation on the accuracy of self-reported grades. Since subjects high in achievement motivation have a greater need for success than subjects low in achievement motivation, we predicted that they would also be more likely to overestimate the degree of their success than low need achievers. This was tested by comparing the grade point overestimations of high and low need achievers. Although there was a general tendency toward oyerestimation, this tendency, as predicted, was significantly greater for individuals high in achievement motivation. The present study considered the implications of this finding as well as the validity of the self-reported grade point average.