The Effect of Similarity and Ranking on Competitive Performance

Abstract

Natural selection involves a competition amidst scarcity among species. Thus, organisms tend to engage in competitive behaviors, and humans are no exception to this. Social comparison influences competitive behavior such that people are motivated to perform better than others. The social comparison model of competition identifies individual factors and situational factors as important determinants of competitiveness. The study sought to investigate how similarity between competitors (individual factor), ranking (situational factor), and the interaction between them influence competitive behavior. The experiment was conducted using a 2 (similar or dissimilar) x 3 (undisclosed, top, or bottom) between-subjects factorial design. Using convenience sampling, 120 undergraduate students were recruited to compete against a confederate in two motor-based games. Results revealed that the main effects of both factors and their interaction were not statistically significant. Nonetheless, the study shed light on the attitudes of Filipino undergraduate students in the face of competition and how the interplay of subjective and cultural values and situational factors shape their behavior.



Author Information
Paul Nyray Antolino, University of the Philippines Diliman, The Philippines
Grazianne-Geneve Mendoza, University of the Philippines Diliman, The Philippines
Gabrielle Dominique Herradura, University of the Philippines Diliman, The Philippines
Janah Nicole Ologenio, University of the Philippines Diliman, The Philippines

Paper Information
Conference: ACP2018
Stream: Qualitative/Quantitative Research in any other area of Psychology

This paper is part of the ACP2018 Conference Proceedings (View)
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Posted by James Alexander Gordon