Premium
INCREASES IN TEST SCORES AS A FUNCTION OF MATERIAL REWARDS
Author(s) -
Tuinman J. Jaap,
Farr Roger,
Blanton B. Elgit
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
journal of educational measurement
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.917
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1745-3984
pISSN - 0022-0655
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-3984.1972.tb00955.x
Subject(s) - test (biology) , psychology , analysis of covariance , statistics , audiology , mathematics , medicine , paleontology , biology
In this study 81 experimental and 79 control subjects (randomly assigned to treatments) took Form A of the Nelson Reading Test, twice, with a four week interval between test administrations. Instructions for the retest varied for the E and C groups. The latter group was told that the test was readministered for purposes of assessing improvement. The E subjects were informed that by improving their previous score they would be eligible for winning a prize (candy bars, university sweaters, radios). Analysis of covariance indicated that the effect of the awards was significant (p < .01) in terms of number of items attempted and in terms of items correct. The adjusted mean increase for the E subjects was three months. The authors concluded that, if the terms of an actual performance contract would be applied to their results, they were to realize approximately $3,000 profit on a $75 investment.