Inter-Related Effects of Experimental Set and External Reinforcement on Self-Reinforcement

Using 3 levels of pre-experimental set (high, low, none) and 3 levels of noncontingent external E reinforcement (75%, 25%, none), 2 types of self-reinforcement were investigated. 90 students responded to problem statements and then were asked to indicate those responses which they felt were helpful (self-reinforcement) and those which would be particularly helpful and deserving of reward. No differences were found in either self-reinforcement or “deserving of reward” rate for the 3-set groups. E-reinforcing rate produced significance in self-reinforcing rate with those receiving 75% E-reinforcement giving the greatest number of self-reinforcement and those receiving 75% E-reinforcement the least. There was no sex difference for self-reinforcement. The only significant difference in the “deserving of reward” rate was for sex, with males feeling more of their responses were deserving of reward than did females.