Final answer:
Self-serving bias makes people likely to attribute their successes to internal traits. For an 'A' on an exam, the typical self-attribution would be A. 'I am really smart!' rather than recognizing external factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-Serving Bias and Attribution
According to the concept of self-serving bias, if you get an 'A' on your next exam, you are most likely to make an attribution that is internal and positive, such as "I am really smart!" This bias leads individuals to attribute their own successes to internal or dispositional factors. When it comes to failure, a person influenced by self-serving bias typically blames external or situational factors to protect their self-esteem. This tendency differs across cultures and can influence our perception of our own achievements as well as those of others.
In the quizmaster study, observers and contestants both attributed the questioner's performance to internal characteristics like intelligence, rather than the situational advantage of creating the questions. This demonstrates the power of self-serving bias in overlooking situational influences. Similarly, if a student scored a 90 on the third exam, one might predict that their final exam score would also reflect their competency, if we are guided by self-serving bias.