On the costs and benefits of ignorance: how performance satisfaction is affected by knowing the standard prior to performance

Subjects in two experiments performed a novel task. They were given a performance standard either before or after performance. Half the subjects were given performance feedback indicating that performance exceeded the standard (i.e., success); the other half were given performance feedback indicating that performance was below the standard (i.e., failure). The findings indicate that the timing of the presentation of the standard influences the affective reaction to performance. Subjects who received the standard after performance were more satisfied (in the success condition) or more dissatisfied (in the failure condition) than those who received the standard prior to performance. Experiment 2 also included variations in the timing of the presentation of the standard and in the feedback following performance. No systematic differences were found between these conditions. Implications of these findings of models of performance evaluation are discussed.