INTRINSIC MOTIVATION AND EXTRINSIC REWARDS - A COMMENTARY ON CAMERON AND PIERCES METAANALYSIS

This article provides a critical analysis of Cameron and Pierce's (199 4) metaanalytic review of the experimental literature on the effects o f extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation. It is suggested that Came ron and Pierce's overly simplistic conclusion has little theoretical o r practical value and is instead the direct consequence of their syste matic and consistent misuse of meta-analytic procedures. A more nuance d analysis of the several different processes by which extrinsic rewar ds may affect motivation is also offered.