Reward versus Response Cost as Incentives for Children Differing in Locus of Control for Positive and Negative Outcomes

An experiment was performed to compare the effects of reward and response cost on children differing in locus of control as assessed by the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Scale. Rather than utilizing total scores to categorize as internal and external, the positive and negative subscales were used to classify children into four locus of control categories. Students who scored consistently internal or external for both positive and negative outcomes did not differ in performance when given reward or response cost instructions, but internal subjects outperformed external ones. Students who were internal for negative outcomes and external for positive outcomes, and students who were external for negative outcomes and internal for positive outcomes performed better under response cost instructions. On the whole these results were interpreted as consistent with social learning theory and inconsistent with cue explication. Classroom applications are discussed, and it is suggested that researchers utilize the subscales more frequently.