Words associated with high monetary incentive were better recalled than those associated with low incentive. This effect was found to depend on differential rehearsal, since it was eliminated or markedly attenuated when manipulations designed to minimize rehearsal were used. High-incentive words are more elaborately or extensively processed than low-incentive words, but they are not processed in a qualitatively different manner. This greater elaboration of processing appears to be limited to those attributes or features believed to be relevant to the subsequent retention test. The implications of these findings for incentive theories are discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AtkinsonR. C.ShiffrinR. M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes.SpenceK. W.SpenceJ. T.The Psychology of Learning and Motivation.Vol 2, 89–195.
2.
AtkinsonR. C.WickensT. D. (1971). Human memory and the concept of reinforcement.GlaserR.The Nature of Reinforcement.London: Academic Press6–120.
3.
BaddeleyA. D.HitchG. (1974). Working memory.BowerG. H.The Psychology of Learning and Motivation.Vol 8, 47–89.
4.
BroadbentD. E. (1971). Decision and StressLondon: Academic Press.
5.
CraikF. I. M.LockhartR. S. (1972). Levels of processing: A framework for memory research.Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior11, 671–84.
6.
EysenckM. W.EysenckM. C. (1980). Effects of monetary incentives on rehearsal and on cued recall.Bulletin of the Psychonomic Society15, 245–7.
7.
HarleyW. F. (1965). The effect of monetary incentive in paired associate learning using a differential method.Psychonomic Science2, 377–8.
8.
KleinK.SaltzE. (1976). Specifying the mechanisms in a levels-of-processing approach to memory.Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory2, 671–9.
9.
MillarK. (1979). Word recognition in loud noise.Acta Psychologica43, 225–37.
10.
NelsonT. O. (1976). Reinforcement and human memory.EstesW. K.Handbook of Learning and Cognitive Processes.Hillsdale, N.J.: ErlbaumVol. 3, 207–46.
11.
SimonH. A. (1967). Motivational and emotional controls of cognition.Psychological Review74, 29–39.
12.
SmithA. P.BroadbentD. E. (1981). Noise and levels of processing.Acta Psychologica47, 19–42.
13.
ThorndikeE. L.LorgeI. (1944). The Teacher's Wordbook of 30,000 WordsNew York: Columbia University.
