Effects of Reward on Self‐regulation, Intrinsic Motivation and Creativity

Abstract

This article evaluates the effects of two types of rewards (performance‐contingent versus engagement‐contingent) on self‐regulation, intrinsic motivation and creativity. Forty‐two undergraduate students were randomly assigned to three conditions; i.e. a performance‐contingent reward group, an engagement‐contingent reward group and a control group. Results provide little support for the negative effects of performance rewards on motivational components. However, they do indicate that participants in the engagement‐contingent reward group and the control group achieved higher rated creativity than participants in the performance‐contingent reward group. Alternative explanations for this finding are discussed.