視覚ヴィジランス・パフォーマンスに及ぼす金銭報酬の効果

抄録

Three experiments were carried out to elucidate the effects of monetary rewards on visual vigilance performance. In all three experiments, a pointer, located in front of the subject, deflected at 2s intervals for 40min. The subjects, looking at the pointer, pressed one button to normal deflections (noise), while the other button to occasional larger deflections (signal). Receipts of monetary rewards were informed to subjects by the sounding of a buzzer, In Experiment I, hit-contingent rewards increased both hits and false alarms (Contingent group), but the same amount of non-contingent reward showed no effect on performances (Non-contingent group). In Experiments II and III, all hits were followed by knowledge of results. Under appropriate conditions (Experiment III), the contingent rewards specifically increased hits without affecting the false-alarm rates. The results were discussed with reference to various effects that contingent rewards would have upon human performances.