Ethnic Differences in Perceptions of Cognitive Ability Tests: The explanatory role of self-serving attributions

This study examined the role of self-serving attributions in the formation of pretest and posttest fairness perceptions of cognitive ability tests among ethnic majority and ethnic minority applicants. In total, 180 unemployed (52.8% Dutch majority) job seekers participated in an application training program consisting of a cognitive ability test and several pretest and posttest questionnaires. Results showed that both pretest and posttest fairness perceptions are prone to self-serving attributions. Ethnic minority applicants have a stronger tendency than ethnic majority applicants to attribute their previous test experiences and their perceived test performance to the fairness of cognitive ability testing. Self-serving attributions were partly explained by (ethnic differences in) attribution style.