Assessed the motivational effects of criterion-setting in self-reinforcement and compared the effects of external criteria with self-imposed criteria and self-presented rewards in undergraduates (N=180). Results indicated that criterion-setting and rewards are both important components of self-reinforcement procedures; and self-imposed criteria…

Attribution theorists have argued that if an intrinsically motivated activity is extrinsically reinforced, the activity will be devalued and extinguished when the reward is removed. Hypothesizing that activities performed for their instrumental outcome are valued less than activities not so externally oriented, and that activities performed for…

Although the behavioral element of the Type A pattern has been identified, the cognitive component of the complex is less well understood. To examine the relationships of self-focused attention, standards for performance, and performance evaluation to Type A behavior, 72 undergraduates were studied. Subjects were classified as Type A (N=36) or…

Like other large organizations, universities often face the problem of distributing scarce resources among individuals. One such resource is university housing space. Students' reactions to a dormitory lottery in which each student had an equal chance of obtaining a room were studied. The lottery seemed fairest to students who shared the…

Some of the justifications put forward for liberal education are reviewed and the strengths they command today are explored. The rationales include the economic argument, the social argument, the argument for self-understanding, and the argument for intrinsic value. (LBH)

The classroom test performance of three groups, self-monitoring (SM), a combination of self-monitoring, self-reinforcement and self-punishment (SM+C), and controls, were compared in independent replications in a chemistry (n=149) and a calculus (n=80) class. In chemistry, but not calculus, the experimental subjects outperformed controls. It was…

Merit pay for teachers is fine in principle, but teachers must have a role in evaluation. The problems that concern merit teaching exit between teacher and principal. It is a question of checks and balances; administrators will play favorites as will teachers. (MLW)

This study was undertaken to examine what would happen if individuals who are intrinsically motivated to perform a cognitive problem-solving task were offered a contingent extrinsic monetary incentive for doing so. Sixty male and 60 female undergraduates at the University of South Florida used microcomputers to complete a cognitive task requiring…

In an investigation of the effectiveness of self-managed reading improvement programs, a program incorporating self-monitoring (observing and recording relevant activity), self-reinforcement (increasing the probability of some target behavior by the self-presentation of positive consequences or the removal of negative consequences), and shaping…

This study investigated whether affective reactions in achievement settings were related to self-esteem. Subjects were 308 undergraduate university students displaying affective reactions to various academic situations portrayed in short stories. Resulting biserial correlations indicate that affective reactions to success and failure were related…

The quality of education in the United States has been seriously damaged by two factors: equality of opportunity equated with the results of education (unless all students perform equally well, the system is judged to be unjust); and societal preoccupation with self-satisfaction and rejection of personal responsibility. (MLW)