Reading Incentive Programs

Jennifer Higgins

Purpose of reading programs

Short-term goal: improve reading skills

Long-term goal: promote a love of reading outside of classwork

Types of Rewards
Passes Privileges Prizes Praise/ Social recognition

Issues and Concerns

Highly commercialized
McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Toys R Us, etc.

Electronic reading programs

Extrinsic v. intrinsic motivation

Electronic Reading Programs

Testing Limits choice Can skew collection development Rewards emphasize achievement over effort May be harmful to long-term reading habits

Extrinsic v. Intrinsic Rewards

RSA Animates- Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Extrinsic v. Intrinsic Rewards

Effect of extrinsic rewards on motivation
Implications for perceived value of tasks Best used for repetitive, simple tasks Reduces established intrinsic motivation Potential to hinder the creation of intrinsic enjoyment

Program Alternatives
Emphasize self-initiation, goal-setting, free choice
Do not limit materials

Remove testing
Include hands-on experiments/ activities

Program Alternatives
Consider replacing conventional reward systems with verbal rewards/ social recognition
Use tangible rewards constructively Develop intrinsic motivation in readers
Share your own enthusiasm Promote creative sharing of students experiences

References
Carter, Betty. (1996). Hold the Applause. School Library Journal 42, no. 10: 22-25.

Hall, M. (2009). Reading Incentive Programs with Pizzazz. Library Media Connection, 28(2), 2829.
Deci, E. L., Koestner R., and Ryan, R. M. (1999) A Meta-Analytic Review of Experiments Examining the Effects of Extrinsic Rewar ds on Intrinsic Motivation. Psychological Bulletin 125: 627-668. Eisenberger, R., & Cameron, J. (1996). Detrimental effects of reward: Reality or myth? American Psychologist, 51(11), 1153 1166. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.dom.edu/10.1037/0003-066X.51.11.1153 Hauge, M. (2001). Reading Incentives: Passes, Privileges, and Prizes. (cover story). Book Report, 20(2), 12. Howard, S. N. (2001). A School Librarians Dilemma: Computerized Reading Incentive Programs. Book Report, 20(3), 52.

Pavonetti, L. M., Brimmer K. M., and Cipielewski, J. F. (2002/2003). Accelerated Reader: What are the Lasting Effects on the Reading Habits of Middle School
Students Exposed to Accelerated Reader in Elementary Grades? Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy 46 no. 4: 300311. Reading incentives programs found to be `highly commercial. (1995). School Library Journal, 41(6), 20. RSA Animate - Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XAPnuFjJc&feature=youtube_gdata_player Small, R. V., Angelastro, E., Bang, S., Bainbridge, S., Brindamour, C., Clarke, J., Yannarelli, A. (2009). Reading Incentives that Work: No -Cost Strategies to Motivate Kids to Read and Love It! School Library Media Activities Monthly, 25(9), 2731. Stauffer, S. M. (2009). Summer Reading Incentives. Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children , 7(2), 5355.