Some Effects of Feedback Alone and Four Types of Self-Consequation on Selected Measures of Problem Solving

Abstract

This paper examines the relative efficacy of five self-management strategies on four measures of arithmetical problem-solving performance. Four of the self-management contingencies, namely, positive and negative self-reward and positive and negative self-punishment, involved the self-presentation of a tangible consequence, whereas for the fifth or self-recording group the consequence was in the form of veridical feedback and more covert or cognitive in nature. A sixth group served as a control (n — 84). Analyses of data indicated that the self-reward groups completed significantly more items than the comparison groups. But when accuracy (errors) was the measure of interest, the self-punishment groups were superior. Essentially, these results replicated the data of an earlier exploratory study.