Management of Social Incentives in Air Force Technical Training: A Field Experiment.

Abstract

This report presents the rationale, design, and results of a field experiment which explored the use of social incentives in Air Force technical training. Four experimental treatments of varying complexity were introduced sequentially into a resident training avionics course. These treatments attempted to increase the incidence of student leadership behaviors on the assumption that social interaction would be reinforcing and lead to improved performance. Dependent variables included block exam scores, time to complete blocks, and student attitudes. Results showed that none of the experimental systems had an appreciable effect on performance. One system, however, did have a significant positive effect on student attitudes toward fellow trainees. Various alternative explanations are proposed along with suggestions for future research.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1975
Accession Number
ADA016727

Entities

People

  • Michael T. Wood
  • Milton D. Hakel
  • Richard J. Klimoski

Organizations

  • Ohio State University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Avionics
  • Behavior And Behavior Mechanisms
  • Human Behavior
  • Leadership
  • Motivation
  • Students
  • Trainees
  • Training
  • Training Management

Readers

  • Organizational Psychology.
  • STEM Education
  • Software Engineering