Student rewards often ineffective.

• Position: Education

It seems so natural to many teachers and parents: give children rewards for doing well in school and that will motivate them to achieve more. Not so fast, suggest the authors of Classroom Motivation. Research indicates that rewards actually can be counterproductive if used incorrectly and may lead to less learning and, in some instances, even cheating.

"We think teachers and parents should use rewards less often, use them more carefully, and emphasize learning over rewards," indicates Lynley Anderman, associate professor of educational policy and leadership at Ohio State University, Columbus. Anderman and her coauthor husband, Eric Anderman, professor of educational policy and leadership, contend that there are many commonly held beliefs of teachers and parents regarding how to "motivate" students that simply are not supported by research.

"Motivation is complicated," Eric Anderman says. "A lot of teachers and administrators don't really understand how and why students are motivated, even though they know it is important."

If teachers or parents do give rewards to students, they should be clear that it is for learning...