3 ms·

Motivation Trumps IQ. What now?

• vectorbunny 14y ago
  "In one striking study researchers measured the children’s IQ and split them into High, Average, and Low groups. They reran the test offering the low group an M&M for every correct answer. As a result of this simple incentive, the low group’s score went from 79 to 97 – on par with the average group." I always suspected that sufficient amounts of sugar could could transmogrify the borderline intellectually functioning brain of small children, leaving them hyperactive... but otherwise regular kids. Oh, wait... they got their buzz on after the second test! What did the study demonstrate other than the fact that bored kids didn't want to expend any real effort to fill in their dots? Motivation may dramatically affect the curve on the low end, among those that were previously making no effort. Talk about low hanging fruit. It takes really inspired management to get those kinds if performance gains out of people that are already reasonably smart and reasonably motivated. "What now?", indeed. 18 M&Ms?