The effect of goal value upon expectancy.

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Abstract
Within the framework of Rotter''s social learning theory, this study investigated the effect of different goal (reinforcement) values upon expectancy. 94 boys, ranging in age from 9 to 11, were selected from the fifth and sixth grades of a public school system to serve as Ss. The tasks, representing three different levels of goal value, were the Rotter level-of-aspiration board, a rotary pursuit test, and a six-block tapping test. 71 Ss performed the tasks without a penalty for inaccuracy of estimates, and 23 performed the same tasks with a penalty imposed for inaccuracy of estimates. The most consistent finding was that the value of an event has some effect upon stated expectancy. It was also found that expectancies were significantly lower in highly valued situations; that with continued experience expectancies remained significantly lower in high value conditions; and that the association of a goal value for accuracy (penalty) to expectancy statements, leads to more realistic expectancies.
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