000			01591pab a2200181 454500
008			180718b2016 xxu||||| |||| 00| 0 eng d
100			_aBaekgaard, Martin
245			_aInterpreting performance information: motivated reasoning or unbiased comprehension
260			_c2016
300			_ap.73-82.
362			_aJan-Feb
520			_aA main rationale of performance information is to empower citizens to make informed decisions by presenting them with unambiguous information about the performance of institutions. However, even objective, clear, and unambiguous performance information is subject to biased interpretation depending on whether the information is consistent with the prior beliefs held by those who receive the information. Integrating the theory of motivated reasoning with the literature on performance information, the authors hypothesize that performance information that is inconsistent with prior beliefs is less likely to be interpreted correctly than belief-consistent information. Using randomized survey experiments in which respondents were presented with quantitative performance data, the authors show that subjects systematically interpret performance information in ways that conform with their prior beliefs. The findings question the assumption that providing performance information automatically increases knowledge about government performance, let alone improves political decisions. 11
650			_aOrganizations
650			_aPerformance appraisal
700			_aSerritzlew, Soren
773			_aPublic Administration Review
909			_a110995
999			_c110990 _d110990