The differential effects of performance-contingent, completion-contingent, and no-reward conditions on math performance, voluntary task participation, and self-reported interest in math

This study investigated the effects of different types of reward contingencies on math performance and intrinsic interest in math when contingencies are in place, after they are removed, and on voluntary math participation. Students from 4th and 5th grade classrooms served as participants (N = 74). Over the course of 3 school days, all students were exposed to 3 experimental conditions including performance-contingent reward, completion-contingent reward, and no reward. Each experimental condition included (a) an experimental phase in which reward contingencies or the control condition was applied, (b) a mandatory follow-up phase in which students were required to work on a math sheet with no reward contingency, and (c) a choice follow-up phase in which students could continually choose to work on either a math sheet or a word search.; Results showed performance- and completion-contingent rewards led to higher accuracy and completion than the control condition. The two contingency conditions did not differ in their effects on math performance. Once contingencies were removed, there were no significant differences between conditions with respect to student performance on the mandatory follow-up. On the choice assignment, more participants chose to engage in the assignment and had higher accuracy and completion rates following the control condition than either of the contingency conditions.; Students who earned the maximum amount of reward under the contingencies and students who would have earned the maximum reward on the control day, had a contingency been in place, had significantly higher accuracy and completion rates on the choice assignment than participants who earned or would have earned a smaller amount of reward under the contingency and control conditions. High performers did significantly better on choice performance following the control condition than they did following the contingency conditions, with the former almost doubling the accuracy and completion of the latter.