On the relative effects of positive and negative verbal feedback on males' and females' intrinsic motivation.

Abstract
Research on the effect of verbal feedback on intrinsic motivation reveals that negative feedback decreases the intrinsic motivation of both males and females, while positive feedback has yielded conflicting findings. More specifically, positive feedback has been found to increase the intrinsic motivation of males but to decrease that of females. However, certain studies have failed to replicate these findings. The first purpose of this study was to assess the relative effects of positive and negative feedback on males'' and females'' intrinsic motivation. The second purpose of this study was to replicate findings of Vallerand and Reid (1984) regarding the mediating effects of feelings of competence on the verbal feedback-intrinsic motivation relation. Male and female undergraduate students performed an interesting task and received either positive or negative feedback relative to their performance. Subjects then filled out intrinsic motivation and feedlings of competence scales. Results showed that, relative to negative feedback, positive feedback led to higher levels of intrinsic motivation and competence feelings for both males and females. Further, results of the path analysis involving verbal feedback, competence feelings, and intrinsic motivation revealed a picture clearly in line with a mediating model. Results are discussed in light of cognitive evaluation theory and suggestions for future research are offered.