The Effect of Reward and Punishment on the Accuracy of Test Taking
School Name
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Psychology and Sociology
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
3rd Place
Abstract
The purpose of this research project is to determine the effect of reward or punishment on test taking. Both female and male seventh graders were tested, making up three separate groups: reward, punishment, and control. The reward group was told if they made a 90% or higher on the test then they would get to pick out of the prize box, while the punishment group picked out of the prize box first and was told if they didn’t make a 90% or higher on the test then they would have to give the prize back. The control group just took the test, and was used to compare as a base line. The test the seventh graders took contained of sixth grade level english grammar. The hypothesis was that there will be a difference in English test score between the control group and the reward and punishment group. It is also hypothesized that the reward group will score higher on the English test than the punishment group. The null hypothesis was that there will be no relation between the grade of the test taker with a reward and a test taker with a punishment compared to the control group. Surprisingly, the hypothesis was not supported, and the reward and punishment groups were close in average grades, while the control group was below that.
Recommended Citation
Mullins, Kit, "The Effect of Reward and Punishment on the Accuracy of Test Taking" (2018). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 136.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2018/all/136
Location
Neville 321
Start Date
4-14-2018 9:30 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
The Effect of Reward and Punishment on the Accuracy of Test Taking
Neville 321
The purpose of this research project is to determine the effect of reward or punishment on test taking. Both female and male seventh graders were tested, making up three separate groups: reward, punishment, and control. The reward group was told if they made a 90% or higher on the test then they would get to pick out of the prize box, while the punishment group picked out of the prize box first and was told if they didn’t make a 90% or higher on the test then they would have to give the prize back. The control group just took the test, and was used to compare as a base line. The test the seventh graders took contained of sixth grade level english grammar. The hypothesis was that there will be a difference in English test score between the control group and the reward and punishment group. It is also hypothesized that the reward group will score higher on the English test than the punishment group. The null hypothesis was that there will be no relation between the grade of the test taker with a reward and a test taker with a punishment compared to the control group. Surprisingly, the hypothesis was not supported, and the reward and punishment groups were close in average grades, while the control group was below that.
