The Effect of Incentives Upon Aptitude Scores of White and Negro Inmates

Abstract

California Youth Authority wards admitted to one Reception Guidance Center were retested under three conditions to deter mine the effect of incentives upon aptitude test performance. The study originated from the assumption that motivational factors might account for performance decrement on nonverbal tests, especially among minority ethnic groups. Material reward was found to provide superior inducement to test score elevation as compared to verbal encouragement or mere retest, but the effects were slight and not contingent on ethnic status. Results suggest either that insufficient incentive was applied or differing cultural experiences generate score biases regardless of motivational state.