A quantitative review of overjustification effects in persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Abstract

The overjustification hypothesis suggests that extrinsic rewards undermine intrinsic motivation. Extrinsic rewards are common in strengthening behavior in persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities; we examined overjustification effects in this context. A literature search yielded 65 data sets permitting comparison of responding during an initial no-reinforcement phase to a subsequent no-reinforcement phase, separated by a reinforcement phase. We used effect sizes to compare response levels in these two no-reinforcement phases. Overall, the mean effect size did not differ from zero; levels in the second no-reinforcement phase were equally likely to be higher or lower than in the first. However, in contrast to the overjustification hypothesis, levels were higher in the second no-reinforcement phase when comparing the single no-reinforcement sessions immediately before and after reinforcement. Outcomes consistent with the overjustification hypothesis were somewhat more likely when the target behavior occurred at relatively higher levels prior to reinforcement.

Token reinforcement: Translational research and application

“…Moreover, tokens were contingent on job or task performance—variables shown to attenuate the so‐called adverse effects of contingent reinforcement (Eisenberger & Cameron, ). These results thus join with the results reported for reinforcement procedures more generally (Eisenberger & Cameron, ; Levy et al, ), in showing no detrimental effects of reinforcement contingencies.…”

Context influences preference for and level of physical activity of adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities

“…During the return to baseline, the percentage of intervals she spent engaging in MVPA decreased below the percentages observed in the initial baseline. Although we only evaluated treatment with one individual, it is possible that contact with praise as a reinforcer for MVPA during the DRA condition might have influenced her motivation to engage in physical activity in the absence of reinforcement (i.e., the overjustification effect; see Levy et al, ). However, the overjustification effect may be more likely when tangible reinforcers are used (Branch & Hackenberg, ).…”

Behavioral treatment of automatically reinforced SIB: 1982 – 2015

“…This computer software allows digital conversion of graphed data points into actual values. This program has been used in prior behavior‐analytic (Bowman‐Perrot, Burke, Zaini, Zhang, & Vannest, ; Hagopian et al, ; Levy et al, ) and medical research (Ma et al, ; Prieto, Vazquez, & Murado, ; Zhou et al, ).…”