Effects of Differing External Feedback Conditions on Rates of Self-Reinforcement

Summary

The effects of differing external feedback conditions and the relationship of base rate/self-reinforcement and final rate/self-reinforcement were investigated. Participants in the study were 150 sixth grade boys and girls from middle and upper middle class homes. Each S's base rate/self-reinforcement level within the context of an ambiguous task was established in the initial phase of the study. Ss were then randomly assigned to one of three feedback conditions (positive, negative, and control). Following administration of feedback the final rate/self-reinforcement was then obtained with the use of different items from the same ambiguous task. Analysis of variance indicated significant main effects for base rate/self-reinforcement and feedback conditions upon final rate/self-reinforcement. Interaction effects of base rate/self-reinforcement and feedback conditions were nonsignificant.