There are several techniques in which teachers and professors at many different age levels implement in order to reach the highest potential of each student. These techniques range from group projects to rewards for participating in discussion. These methods all deal with two major questions of teaching processes: first, how and why do rewards affect behavior? And, secondly, is it more beneficial to focus on extrinsic or intrinsic motivation in order to achieve academic success??
             There are many possible teaching strategies that can be used in order to increase the chances of academic success. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages and contributes to the motivation of the individual. Teachers can implement the use of rewards, encouragement, or praise.
             Rewards, as defined by Ferguson, are a pleasurable event that follows a specific behavior that may lead to learning of new responses or to altered motivation (Ferguson pg. 183)." It was believed, and is still believed by some, that rewards had beneficial effects on learning and that responses that are followed by a reward will tend to be increased on the next occasion. It was said that the when a reward followed a correct response, it would led to more correct responses and the amount of the award would alter motivation in the individual. It is also said that rewards increase the likelihood of a person responding because it gives the individual feedback on the quality of their response.
             Although, these rewards may alter the person's goals by focusing more on the reward instead of the learning. "In such a case, obtaining the reward outcome becomes the focus, and the action is merely a means to that end (Ferguson pg. 187)." If the person relies on these rewards as incentives for motivation, when the rewards are decreased then motivation will decrease as well and the person will be less productive and exert less effort. Alder believes that rew...