The effectiveness of varying relative magnitude, where the absolute magnitude was identical in low and high rewarded groups, was investigated. Ss were boys and girls in kindergarten and third grades who were categorized as high and low on rated predisposition to persist. Scores were obtained in lever activity, response speed, and trials to extinction. The results provided support for the usefulness of the relative reward method in its effects on the above measures. The combined use of the activity and speed measures was found to strengthen the interpretation of the results. The interaction of ratings on predisposition to persist with reward treatments indicated the usefulness of distinguishing Ss on such behavioral characteristics.
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Nakamura et al. (1964) studied this question.