The Incentive Value of Uncertainty Reduction for Children.

FELDSTEIN, JEROME H., and WITRYOL, SAM L. The Incentive Value of Uncertainty Reduction for Children. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1971, 42, 793804. The major hypothesis, that uncertainty reduction acts as an incentive, was generally confirmed for 60 fourth graders. On each of 40 preference trials, S chose between bubble gum and a package which concealed 1 of 4 rewards of equal or lower value. Viewing package contents defined uncertainty reduction. Independent experimental groups could open package choices immediately, or after 1 of 3 delay levels. 2 groups, receiving most immediate uncertainty reduction, chose more packages than longer-delayed groups (p < .05), and preferred packages to bubble gum (p < .05; p < .002). Package choices increased following uncertainty reduction and decreased with delay. Experimental-control differences were only marginal because control manipulations failed to eliminate uncertainty about packages. Interpretation was by incentive and information theory.