PERFORMANCE OF PRISONERS IN TWO KINDS OF CONTINGENCY PATHS

• NCJ Number: 18060
• Author(s): E E ENTIN; J NOSIN
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 9 pages
• Sale Source: Eric Document Reproduction Service; National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION - CHICAGO, APRIL 15-19, 1974

Annotation

AN ATTEMPT TO SUBSTANTIATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION AND FUTURE ORIENTATION FOR A PRISON POPULATION.

Abstract

IN A ONE TRY AT SUCCESS CONDITION, PRISONERS HIGH IN N ACHIEVEMENT-LOW IN TEST ANXIETY (HL) PERFORMED SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN THOSE LOW IN ACHIEVEMENT-HIGH IN TEST ANXIETY (LH) IN A NONCONTINGENT BUT NOT A CONTINGENT PATH. THESE RESULTS ARE CONSISTENT WITH PREVIOUS FINDINGS INVOLVING PRISONERS AND AT VARIANCE WITH RESULTS DERIVED FROM STUDENTS. UNDER THE TWO TRIES AT SUCCESS CONDITION, HL'S PERFORMED SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER THAN LH'S IN A CONTINGENT BUT NOT A NONCONTINGENT PATH AND HENCE ARE MORE IN LINE WITH RESULTS OBTAINED FROM STUDENTS. THE HYPOTHESIS THAT PRISONERS BEHAVE AS IF THEY WERE FAILURE THREATENED IS EXPLORED.