From Slavin (2009): "Attribution theory: A theory of motivation that focuses on how people explain the causes of their own success and failures" (p. 300).

"Weiner (2000) suggests that most explanations for success or failure have three characteristics. The first is whether the cause is seen as internal (within the person) or external. The second is whether it is seen as stable or unstable. The third is that people will attempt to maintain a positive self image. Therefore, when they do well in an activity, they are likely to attribute their success to their own efforts or abilities; butt when they do poorly, they will believe that their failure is based on factors over which they had no control" (p. 300).

"Attribution theory deals primarily with four explanations for success and failure in achievement situations: ability, effort, task difficulty, and luck. Ability and effort attributions are internal to the individuals; task difficulty and luck attributions are external. Ability is taken to be a relatively stable, unalterable state; effort can be altered. Similarly, task difficulty is essentially a stable characteristic, whereas luck is unstable and uncontrollable" (p. 301).

"Attribution theory is important in helping teachers understand how students might interpret and use feedback that has the greatest motivational value" (p. 302).