College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations (1964–2006)

Term of Award

Spring 1991

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Department

Department of Psychology

Committee Chair

Gary McClure

Committee Member 1

Richard L. Rogers

Committee Member 2

Paul R. Kleinginna, Jr.

Abstract

This study examined the effects of failure on the frequency of self-reinforcement for Learning-Oriented (strive to improve ability) and Performance-Oriented (strive to prove ability) subjects. After "failure", the Performance-oriented subjects were expected to significantly decrease the frequency of their selfreinforcement, while the Learning-oriented would exhibit no change. Volunteers from an introductory psychology course completed a subset of the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Scale to determine orientation, and half of the Frequency of Self-reinforcement Questionnaire to measure the amount of non-verbal reinforcement during a task. Next, a one-minute brainstorming task was administered, quickly "scored" with a randomly assigned "pass" or "fail" grade, and followed by completion of the second half of the Frequency of Self-reinforcement Questionnaire. Analysis of the data did not produce significant differences in the frequency of self-reinforcement between the groups regardless of outcome, thus failing to support the hypothesis.

OCLC Number

1031712694

Copyright

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