Effects of monetary rewards and punishments on vigilance performance

Abstract

IN A 1-HR COMPLEX VISUAL VIGILANCE TASK, SS IN 5 GROUPS WERE REWARDED FOR CORRECT DETECTIONS AND PUNISHED FOR EITHER MISSED TARGETS OR FALSE ALARMS. CONTROLS PERFORMED THE TASK WITHOUT POSSIBILITY OF REWARD OR PUNISHMENT. 3 LEVELS OF MONETARY INCENTIVE WERE USED AS REWARDS. THER RESULTS INDICATE THAT (1) SOME COMBINATIONS OF REWARD AND PUNISHMENT FACILITATED DETECTION PERFORMANCE WHILE OTHERS DID NOT, AND (2) SS PUNISHED FOR MISSED TARGETS PERFORMED BETTER THAN SS PUNISHED FOR FALSE ALARMS. IMPLICATIONS FOR VIGILANCE RESEARCH AND THEORY ARE DISCUSSED. (19 REF.) (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)