Social Psycho
Using Kelley's Covariation Model of Attribution
Yes High
Consistency: Does this person respond to this stimulus in the same way across time? (If yes, we seek explanation.)
Yes High
External or situational attribution
Yes High
Distinctiveness: Does this person respond differently in different situations?
No Low
Internal or personal, dispositional attribution
Yes High
Consensus: Do other people respond the same way as this person to this stimulus?
No Low
Examples: Applying Kelley's model of attribution (Answers appear below)
1. You have to evaluate Miguel’s cooking performance at the La Cocina restaurant. Miguel usually works the lunch shift and you note that on three days in a row Miguel falls behind in his orders. The other cooks quickly get their orders ready, but Miguel is much slower. You have the opportunity to watch Miguel on one dinner shift when the restaurant has fewer customers, but Miguel still can’t keep up with the orders. What is the consensus information? Is consensus high or low? What is the consistency information? Is consistency high or low? What is the distinctiveness information? Is distinctiveness high or low? To what do you attribute Miguel's behavior? Are you making an internal (personal) or external (situational) attribution?
2. You are assigned a group project in one of your classes. One of your group members, Adriana calls and says she cannot make the meeting scheduled for that evening. You recall that Adriana has made it to all the previous meetings of your group. You also worked with Adriana in a different class and you could rely on her in that class. You get calls from two other members of your group saying they can’t make it to campus because of a snowstorm. What is the consensus information? Is consensus high or low? What is the consistency information? Is consistency high or low? What is the distinctiveness information? Is distinctiveness high or low? To what do you attribute Adriana’s
Yes High
Consistency: Does this person respond to this stimulus in the same way across time? (If yes, we seek explanation.)
Yes High
External or situational attribution
Yes High
Distinctiveness: Does this person respond differently in different situations?
No Low
Internal or personal, dispositional attribution
Yes High
Consensus: Do other people respond the same way as this person to this stimulus?
No Low
Examples: Applying Kelley's model of attribution (Answers appear below)
1. You have to evaluate Miguel’s cooking performance at the La Cocina restaurant. Miguel usually works the lunch shift and you note that on three days in a row Miguel falls behind in his orders. The other cooks quickly get their orders ready, but Miguel is much slower. You have the opportunity to watch Miguel on one dinner shift when the restaurant has fewer customers, but Miguel still can’t keep up with the orders. What is the consensus information? Is consensus high or low? What is the consistency information? Is consistency high or low? What is the distinctiveness information? Is distinctiveness high or low? To what do you attribute Miguel's behavior? Are you making an internal (personal) or external (situational) attribution?
2. You are assigned a group project in one of your classes. One of your group members, Adriana calls and says she cannot make the meeting scheduled for that evening. You recall that Adriana has made it to all the previous meetings of your group. You also worked with Adriana in a different class and you could rely on her in that class. You get calls from two other members of your group saying they can’t make it to campus because of a snowstorm. What is the consensus information? Is consensus high or low? What is the consistency information? Is consistency high or low? What is the distinctiveness information? Is distinctiveness high or low? To what do you attribute Adriana’s