Comparing the effectiveness of individualistic, altruistic, and competitive incentives in motivating completion of mental exercises.

Heather Schofield, George Loewenstein, Jessica Kopsic, Kevin G Volpp

Journal: Journal of health economics 2017;44():286-99

PMID: 26595894

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Abstract

This study examines the impact of individually oriented, purely altruistic, and a hybrid of competitive and cooperative monetary reward incentives on older adults' completion of cognitive exercises and cognitive function. We find that all three incentive structures approximately double the number of exercises completed during the six-week active experimental period relative to a no incentive control condition. However, the altruistic and cooperative/competitive incentives led to different patterns of participation, with significantly higher inter-partner correlations in utilization of the software, as well as greater persistence once incentives were removed. Provision of all incentives significantly improved performance on the incentivized exercises. However, results of an independent cognitive testing battery suggest no generalizable gains in cognitive function resulted from the training.

Address: Department of Economics, Harvard University, Littauer Center, 1805 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA 02138, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Baker Hall/Dietrich Hall 319D, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].; Department of Social and Decision Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Baker Hall/Dietrich Hall 208, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].; Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), Philadelphia VA Medical Center, LDI Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics, Perelman School of Medicine and Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 1120 Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2015.09.007

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MeSH Terms: Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Altruism, Cognitive Dysfunction, Competitive Behavior, Cooperative Behavior, Economics, Behavioral, Female, Health Behavior, Humans, Male, Mental Processes, Middle Aged, Motivation, Pennsylvania, Problem Solving, Social Environment, United States