The effect of monetary incentive in paired associate learning using a differential method

Abstract

AbstraetTwo groups of human Ss were tested in a paired associate learning task using the method of anticipation with 13 pairs of CVC trigrams oflowassociation value. Both groups were told that the learning of trigrams of a certain background color (yellow, white) would result ih a reward of 25 cents for each correct response on a predetermined trial. The interval between the stimulus trigram onset and response trigram onset for each pair was 4 sec. for both groups. But the interval between the response trigram onset of one pair and the stimulus trigram onset of the next pair (R-S interval) was 4 sec. for one group and 1.3 sec. for the other group. The 4 sec. R-S interval group learned the high incentive trigrams (HIT) significantly faster than the low incentive trigrams (LIT), but the difference was not significant in the 1.3 sec. group. Also, the-length of the R-S interval had a significant effect on the ease of recall of HIT relative to LIT. The amount recalled depended upon the total amount of time permitted for looking at the pairs rather than upon the total number of trials or overt recitations. IntrodnetlonThe purpose of this experiment is to investigate the effect of a monetary incentive upon the learning of paired associate trigrams. It has been possible to demonstrate an effect of incentive magnitude upon learning in animal studies using differential methods, but results are ambiguous when absolute methods are utilized (Pubols, 1960). As a result, a differential method was used in this study on the assumption that this method would be more sensitive to the effect of monetary incentive magnitude than an "absolute" procedure.This study is an attempt to answer two questions: (1) Can a human S learn paired associate trigrams with high incentive in less time than those with low incentive, and (2) if so, what conditions effect such behavior?It is assumed that other incentives in addition to the monetary incentive are present in this learning situation. Therefore, those trigrams which are rewarded monetarily when learned will be referred to as high incentive trigrams (HIT) and those which are not rewarded monetarily when learned are low incentive trigrams (LIT) rather than no incentive. SubjeetsForty students enrolled in an introductory psychology course at the University of California, Santa Barbara, served as Ss. They volunteered for the experiment and did not know that they would be paid. ApparatusA small Gerbrands Memory Drum connected to a Hunter recycling timer was used to present the stimuli. The timer and memory drum were set such that the interval between the stimulus trigram and the response trigram (S-R interval), and the interval between the response trigram and the next stimulus trigram (R-S interval) could be varied independently. The intervals were measured from the onset of one trigram to the onset of the next trigram. The stimUli consisted of 26 CVC trigrams of low association value (M < 8) . These were randomly divided into 13 pairs. Two background colors, yellow and white, were chosen to pr...