Prediction of performance from motivation and ability information in Burkina Faso adolescent.

Many studies, using information integration theory, have been devoted to the prediction of performance on the basis of ability and motivation information. However, it appears that only two societies. American and East Indian, have been examined with regard to their prevalent performance prediction model. Participants in this study were school children in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Considerable differences between individuals were expected because, as a consequence of colonization, Burkina Faso has been torn between two different value systems: a collectivistic system, with traditional tribal Burkinabè values, and an individualistic system, with occidental values. The study's most notable finding was the coexistence of these two value systems within the same society. The predominant logic of Western societies, that increased motivation will result in increased rewards when initial ability is high, was utilized by 42% of the children; in contrast, 38% of the children applied the dominant logic expressed by East Indian researchers, who have found that regardless of the level of ability, any amount of motivation will result in an identical improvement in performance.