The Impact of Monetary Incentives on Reading Test Performance
Would offering a monetary incentive influence college students' performance on a reading test after a speed-reading course?
Based on the studies I have read, the answer is it depends.
Introduction
Studies Showing Positive Effects of Monetary Incentives
Research conducted by Fryer (2011) and O'Neil et al. (1995) found that monetary incentives can have a positive effect on reading test performance. For example, students who were offered monetary rewards for scoring higher on reading tests showed significantly better results compared to those who were not offered any incentives.Studies Showing No Consistent Effect of Monetary Incentives
On the other hand, a study by Levitt et al. (2011) demonstrated that monetary incentives had no impact on the performance of 12th-grade students on a reading assessment. This suggests that the effectiveness of monetary incentives may vary depending on the context and other influencing factors.Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Monetary Incentives
Several factors may influence the effectiveness of monetary incentives on reading test performance:- The students' age: Younger students may be more motivated by monetary incentives than older students.
- The students' prior reading skills: Students with stronger reading skills may be less driven by monetary rewards.
- The students' interest in the reading material: Students who find the material engaging may perform well without monetary incentives.
- The way the incentive is structured: Clarity and achievability of the incentive play a significant role.
- The students' perception of the incentive: Students should perceive the incentive as fair and attainable for it to be effective.