Effect of information, subject age, and instructional set on predictive judgments.

Examined the effects of 3 variables on the accuracy of 120 male undergraduate judges to predict behavior. Variables were: (a) no information about the Ss whose behavior was to be predicted, biographical information, and information considered relevant to the behavior; (b) S age, with Ss being 1 child and 2 adults; and (c) no instructions, and instructions oriented toward furnishing a set regarding how to predict. Significant differences were found between the 2 levels of S age and also among the 3 levels of information. The effect of instruction approached significance. There were some additive effects apparent when all 3 variables were considered at 1 time. (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)