INSTRUMENTAL LEARNING IN PRESENCE OF NONCONTINGENT REWARD

Investigated in 2 experiments the effects of noncontingent reward on the learning of an instrumental response by 164 college students. Ss earned contingent reinforcement by operating a panel of 10 buttons. Some Ss also received rewards that were completely independent of any aspects of their behavior. Ss receiving both contingent and noncontingent rewards showed much less learning than Ss receiving only contingent rewards. This effect was not diminished either by increasing reward for good performance, or by informing the Ss that some of the rewards would be completely independent of their behavior. The size of the effect also was not altered significantly by a 4-fold variation in the density of noncontingent reward. Several possible explanations for the detrimental effect of the noncontingent rewards are discussed, and it is concluded that learned independence of responses and rewards was the most likely cause of the behavior. However, superstitious strengthening of incorrect responses can not be completely ruled out. (16 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1978 American Psychological Association.