This experiment was performed to assess the interactive effect of incentive strength and task difficulty using measures of behavioral intensity. Subjects faced an easy or difficult task in order to avoid having to listen to aversive radio static. Half of the subjects were to hear a loud noise and half were to hear a soft noise. Prior to task commencement, five measures of behavioral intensity were taken—two timing measures, two counting measures, and one measure involving the amount of error in filling in scantron bubbles. Results showed that one timing measure and three mood adjectives followed the predicted pattern, but not in a statistically significant fashion. The patterns indicated the energization remained low and uniform when subjects heard soft noise, but increased as a function of task difficulty when subjects were exposed to a loud noise. Results are discussed in terms of Brehn’s energization theory of motivation. / Department of Psychological Science
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/184713 |
| Date | January 1993 |
| Creators | Parchert, Dawn M. |
| Contributors | Ball State University. Dept. of Psychological Science., Biner, Paul M. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | v, 56 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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