Motivation and Rewards

It begins with Skinner

Operant conditioning was coined by behaviorist
B.F. Skinner, which is why you may occasionally hear it referred to as Skinnerian conditioning. As a behaviorist, Skinner believed that internal thoughts and motivations could not be used to explain behavior. Instead, he suggested, we should look only at the external, observable causes of human behavior About.com psychology

Operant Conditioning
Applying these terms to the Four Possible Consequences, you get: Something Good can start or be presented, so behavior increases = Positive Reinforcement (R+) Something Good can end or be taken away, so behavior decreases = Negative Punishment (P-) Something Bad can start or be presented, so behavior decreases = Positive Punishment (P+) Something Bad can end or be taken away, so behavior increases = Negative Reinforcement (R-)

Operant Conditioning

Motivation

Intrinsic Motivation
Knowledge Accomplishment Stimulation

Knowledge
knowledge occurs when people participate in activities because of the pleasure and satisfaction they get from learning, acquiring,and studying something new.

Accomplishment
accomplishments occurs when people participate in activities because of the pleasure and satisfaction they get from mastering various skills. Or attaining set goals.

Stimulation
stimulation occurs when people participate in activities because of pleasant sensations such as danger, pain, or excitement.

Extrinsic Motivation
Integrated regulation Identified regulation Introjected regulation External regulation

Integrated regulation
Integrated Regulation is when there is a different benefit derived from performing the activity other than the simple joy of performing it. While exercise is known to be good us, other reasons for exercising include, looking better, getting healthier or better athletic performance.

Identified regulation
Identified regulation occurs when people participate in an activity because the activity is considered of high value and important to the participant, even if they do not enjoy the activity itself.

Identified regulation
. The difference between this and integrated regulation, is that this is limited to the particular activity itself. Or going to school, or doing your homework because it is a great way to learn about things which may be useful to you.

Introjected regulation
Introjected regulation occurs when people participate in an activity because of various pressures. For example, studying self recognition and approval from others.

External regulation
External regulation occurs when athletes participate in an activity only because they feel they have to, or because they may get a reward. For example, playing for the money, or telling someone if you do such and such, Ill give you such and such. This activity is performed entirely for the reward.

Self Determination Theory

People are inherently motivated

to feel connected to others within a social milieu (relatedness) to function effectively in that milieu (effectance) and to feel a sense of personal initiative in doing so (autonomy).

Deci, E.L. and Ryan, R.M. (1994) Promoting Self Determined Education: Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 38, 3-41.

Cognitive Evaluation Theory

Self Determination Theory explains intrinsic motivation but not its cause. CET was developed to help explain it. In this theory they state that rewards have two properties that influence intrinsic motivation: information and control.

Cognitive Evaluation Theory

In turn these properties increase or decrease intrinsic motivation depending on how they affect an individuals self determination and competency.

Bora Bribe: Controlling aspect

Consider which comes across better for you:

If we get this account were all going to Boracay. I know you guys all worked hard and because of your hard work we got it. So pack your bags were going to Bora!

Causality is important
People need to perceive that the result is caused by them. Caveat Emptor: Perceptions can be manipulated.

Sense of Choice
Consider detergents Ariel, Tide and Mr. Clean Which is your favorite? Why? They all belong to Proctor and Gamble

Motivation Can Back fire

Overjustification Hypothesis
In their experiment of 51 school children they wanted to see how rewards affect the motivation of children already known to be fond of a certain activity.

The parameters were as follows: 1. Expected Reward: children in this group were promised certificates and a ribbon if they participated. 2. Surprise reward: children would receive the same rewards as #1 but were not informed about it until the end of the activity. 3. No reward: for control

Tangible rewards tend to have a substantially negative effect on intrinsic motivation.Even when the tangible rewards are offered as indicators of good performance, they typically decrease intrinsic motivation for interesting activities.

Psyblog: Understand Your Mind, How Rewards Can Backfire and Reduce Motivation: www.spring.org.uk/2009/10/howrewardscan-backfire-and-reduce-motivation.php