Reinforcement Effects on Three Measures of Children's Interest in Math
Abstract
The effects of contingent reward on children's interest in an academic activity (math) were investigated in a token economy analog. Three measures of interest were examined using an A-B—a design: (1) amount of the activity produced, (2) quality of the activity produced, and (3) time spent engaging in the activity. Reward was delivered contingent upon the first of these measures. Experimental subjects were exposed to baseline, reinforcement, baseline, and follow-up conditions. A control group received baseline procedures throughout. No evidence of substantial undermining of interest occurred on any measure, although two subjects displayed an immediate, transient decrease in postreward performance.
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In the Vasta and Stirpe (1979) study, the free-choice measure showed an effect size of d = -0.14 (CI -1.09, 0.80).
“and in the Vasta and Stirpe study, the free-choice measure showed an effect size ofd= —0.14 (CI = -1.09, 0.80).”
From A meta-analytic review of experiments examining the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. (1999) · cites this paper as Vasta and Stirpe (1979)
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- Authors
- Vasta, R., & Stirpe, L. A.
- Affiliations
- SUNY Brockport (US)
- Venue
- Behavior Modification
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1979-04
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 223-244
- ISSN
- 0145-4455 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-4167
- OpenAlex
- W2030939347
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 1
- FWCI
- 1.12
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Behavior Modification (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Psychological and Educational Research Studies
- Keywords
- contingent reward, token economy, children's interest in mathematics, academic motivation
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