Learning and Earning: The Role of Incentives in Educational Achievement

Can external rewards develop intrinsic motivation? Based on the research projects conducted by the Center for Literacy Studies with adult basic education programs for recipients of public assistance, this roundtable will examine how incentives influence participation in educational activities and achievement of educational outcomes. Do incentives influence educational outcomes for welfare recipients and other adults who have minimal formal education? For the last three years, the Center for Literacy Studies at The University of Tennessee has conducted research and demonstration projects as a part of Tennessee’s welfare reform initiative. Several ongoing projects identify factors that influence the educational achievement of welfare recipients. One factor, incentives for learning, raises multiple issues that can be particularly sensitive when applied to disadvantaged populations. The purpose of this Roundtable discussion is to examine how incentives influence participation in educational activities and achievement of educational outcomes. Tennessee legislation enacted in 1996 created Families First, a program designed to assist welfare recipients obtain and retain employment and move toward career advancement. In addition to cash grants, the Families First program provides job training, childcare, transportation, assistance to find employment, and transitional benefits for adults who are preparing for work. Those Families First participants wh