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The Power of (No) Recognition: Experimental Evidence from the University Classroom

Author

Listed:
  • Hoogveld, Nicky

    (affiliation not available)

  • Zubanov, Nick

    (University of Konstanz)

Abstract
We study the effect of recognition on performance with a field experiment involving first-year undergraduate students at a Dutch university. Our treatment, given unannounced in randomly selected student groups, was to publicly recognize students who scored within the top 30% of their group on the first of the two midterm exams. The overall treatment effect on the second midterm grade is 0.03s (s = the grade's standard deviation) for the recipients of recognition, and 0.15s for the non-recipients, both statistically insignificant. The effect for the non-recipients increases with class attendance (itself unaffected), and decreases with the distance to the cutoff grade for recognition, reaching a significant 0.44s for those exceeding the minimum attendance requirement and staying within the first quartile of the distance to cutoff. We argue that conformance to performance norm is the most likely behavioral mechanism behind our findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Hoogveld, Nicky & Zubanov, Nick, 2014. "The Power of (No) Recognition: Experimental Evidence from the University Classroom," IZA Discussion Papers 7953, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7953
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    Cited by:

    1. Christiane Bradler & Robert Dur & Susanne Neckermann & Arjan Non, 2016. "Employee Recognition and Performance: A Field Experiment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 62(11), pages 3085-3099, November.
    2. Robinson, Carly D. & Gallus, Jana & Lee, Monica G. & Rogers, Todd, 2021. "The demotivating effect (and unintended message) of awards," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 51-64.
    3. Robinson, Carly D. & Gallus, Jana & Lee, Monica G. & Rogers, Todd, 2018. "The Demotivating Effect (and Unintended Message) of Retrospective Awards," Working Paper Series rwp18-020, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
    4. Maria Cotofan, 2019. "Learning from Praise: Evidence from a Field Experiment with Teachers," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 19-082/V, Tinbergen Institute.
    5. Neckermann, Susanne & Yang, Xiaolan, 2017. "Understanding the (unexpected) consequences of unexpected recognition," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 131-142.
    6. Cotofan, Maria, 2021. "Learning from praise: Evidence from a field experiment with teachers," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    7. Li, Teng & Lu, Runjing, 2022. "Social undermining as a dark side of symbolic awards: Evidence from a regression discontinuity design," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    8. Cotofan, Maria, 2021. "Learning from praise: evidence from a field experiment with teachers," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 112772, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    recognition; performance; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • M52 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Personnel Economics - - - Compensation and Compensation Methods and Their Effects

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