Educational programs for children with autism rely on the use of extrinsic rewards to increase childrens motivation to participate. However, maintenance and transfer of intervention gains remains problematic. Research with typically developing children and adults has shown that extrinsic rewards can have differing effects on intrinsic motivation. That is, the ways in which rewards are administered (reward contingency, interpersonal context) can increase, decrease, or leave an individuals intrinsic motivation unaffected. The present research examined whether these characteristics would increase the intrinsic motivation of children with autism, and whether observed increases maintained and generalized to novel contexts. In two different studies, children with autism were given performance-based rewards for engaging in academic activities in both choice and no-choice conditions. Each correct response earned the children one token that was exchangeable for one minute of time with their preferred reward. In some conditions, children were offered opportunities to make choices during the activity, whereas in other conditions, choice making was not allowed. Results indicated that childrens intrinsic motivation for the academics was neither undermined nor enhanced following the receipt of the reward. Further, children showed a clear preference for the academic subject associated with enhanced choice. These results were discussed in terms of Skinners behavioral theory and cognitive evaluation theory. The limitations, as well as the practical implications, are also discussed. / Special Education
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:AEU.10048/1587 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Lynch, Shane Lorne |
| Contributors | Buck, George (Educational Psychology), Cameron, Judy (Educational Psychology), Pierce, David (Sociology), Sobsey, Richard (Educational Psychology), McQuarrie, Lynn (Educational Psychology), Harrington, Scott (College of Education) |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 11453318 bytes, application/pdf |
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