Summer Reading: Should We Give Students Incentives or Not?

    Doud, Maggie Stauffer, S.M. (2009, June 1). Summer reading incentives; Positive or pernicious? Children & Libraries: The Journal of the Association for Library Service to Children . https://web-p-ebscohost-com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=70cda242-40a2-4efa-8473-527f38ac0678%40redis   Summary:      Stauffer's article sheds light on the contrast between intrinsic and extrinsic rewards in the context of summer library programs and prizes. Stauffer suggests a departure from tangible incentives, emphasizing the significance of verbal praise and social validation. Drawing from decades of psychological research, Stauffer highlights the consensus among psychologists that extrinsic rewards, dating back to studies from the 1970s, can impede the cultivation of intrinsic motivation, even for enjoyable activities. This insight prompts a reevaluation of the rewards system in summer library programs, urging a shift towar...