THE EFFECTS OF COOPERATIVE AND INDIVIDUALISTIC REWARD ON INTRINSIC MOTIVATION

The effects of cooperative versus individualistic reward on students' intrinsic motivation were investigated. The controlling aspects of ext rinsic reward may be heightened or produce greater ego threat in the i ndividualistic situation when compared with a group situation. We pred icted that students in the cooperative social situation would show hig her levels of intrinsic motivation. Fifth-grade students from existing cooperative groups were assigned randomly to receive a tangible rewar d based on either cooperative or individualistic achievement for compl eting pattern block designs. Cooperation affected intrinsic motivation positively. Students in the cooperative dyad solved the block designs more quickly, interacted positively, and viewed the task as easier th an did those in the individualistic situation, and they reported that their peers were helpful. There was little evidence that the controlli ng functions of reward or ego-threat were factors in producing the out come. Some evidence supporting the importance of the social nature of cooperation was provided.