Method: Nine participants were asked to ride a stationary bike for several 20-minute sessions. A multi-element design was used which alternated these sessions between two conditions: baseline and token economy. During baseline sessions, participants rode for 20 minutes at a pace of their choice and received no extrinsic rewards. During token economy sessions, participants received tokens on one of two schedules of reinforcement. Five participants were administered tokens on an increasing duration schedule, where they were rewarded with a token for every minute they rode at least 15% above their baseline mean revolutions per minute (RPMs). For each subsequent token session, the time needed to earn a token increased by 25 seconds. Four participants were administered tokens on a changing performance schedule, where they were rewarded with a token for every minute they were above 10% their baseline mean RPMs. Each subsequent token session, the performance criterion increased by 5%. Once participants earned tokens, they were able to trade them in for a variety of gift cards. Motivation was measured before, after, and two weeks following the intervention.
Analysis/Results: Participants’ intrinsic motivation before and after the intervention was assessed using the Situational Motivational Scale. Mean RPMs for each session were graphed and visually inspected for differences between baseline and token sessions. Visual inspection of the graphs revealed an increase in exercise intensity for all participants when token reinforcement was implemented. Five participants’ motivation scores increased or remained constant while three decreased slightly.
Conclusions: Based on the results, implementing a rewards system in a PA setting can increase performance and, in some cases, intrinsic motivation. PA practitioners can use tangible rewards with the confidence that an improvement in performance may occur while not contributing to the detriment of their athletes’ or students’ intrinsic motivation.