When Both the Skilled and Unskilled are Unaware: Consequences for Academic Performance

The authors replicate Kruger and Dunning (1999) by demonstrating that the most unskilled students overestimate their skill level, whereas highly skilled students underestimate their skill level. Furthermore, this misestimation of skill is related to academic performance. Misestimation was positively related to first year college GPA, persistence to the fourth year of college, and graduation. At times, this effect can lead lower-ability students to perform just as well as, or better than, higher-ability students. Thus, misestimation of skill level appears to serve as a benefit for less-skilled individuals, but as a hindrance for highly-skilled individuals as they pursue academic goals.