Abstract
Performance information attaches numbers to the inputs, outputs, and outcomes of public services. Numbers are what separate performance information from other sources of information about public sector performance. In cognitive and social psychology, there are vast amounts of research on the profound effects of numbers on human attitudes and behavior, but these insights are largely unexplored by scholars of performance information. This article introduces the importance of numerical psychology for the study of performance information, pointing out how numerical research both challenges existing beliefs about performance information and allows for the formulation of new hypotheses. These insights are relevant to all levels of study, including citizens, managers, and policymakers.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Public Performance and Management Review |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 100-115 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| ISSN | 1530-9576 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Jan 2016 |
Keywords
- Faculty of Social Sciences
- heuristics and biases
- performance measures
- psychology