Introduction

The study done by Harlow and Deci concluded that people complete a task when paid or rewarded but not any better than when just asked to do it.  At work we are given incentives if we don’t call in all month. If you enjoy the job then there is no reason to call in, but those people who don’t enjoy the job don’t care about the incentives therefore don’t show up to work many times. This ties in to a statement on page eight, where the author mentions how rewards can be a boost at first but after a while that boost wears off and it reduces a person’s long-term motivation to continue a task.  I tied the studies of Harlow and Deci to when students don’t want to read.  When students no longer enjoy reading they will do it because they have to, but they will not do it any better even if you offer incentives.  That is why as educators will need to find ways to make reading interesting, challenging, and enjoyable for them so they can continue to do it for enjoyment and where incentives don’t need to be offer.  Just like Stasia and Samantha suggested we need to keep students motivated and eager to learn otherwise we lose their interest and students are not as engaged.  Students also need to be able to find a meaning in the work they are given. If a student is not motivated and doesn’t see the meaning of  the task, that student will not be interested in it. Therefore, they may complete the task but not any better than if they were rewarded.