Who would you say "good job" to?

For 5- to 8-year-olds who are located in the United States.

In this study, your child will hear six short stories about characters trying different sports and experiencing different outcomes. For example, they may hear a story about two characters who score a goal, with one character succeeding through hard work and the other character succeeding effortlessly. At the end of each story, your child will be asked to choose which character they would say "good job" to and why.

Prior research shows that the praise children receive from adults influences their motivation. For example, when adults praise children for their effort, children tend to be more motivated than when they are praised for their success. However, little research has explored how children themselves generate praise. In this study, we are interested in whether children are more likely praise others for trying hard or for achieving success and whether this preference shifts as they get older. More broadly, this research aims to understand how children think about effort and success across development!

10-15 Minutes

Participants will be entered in a raffle for a $50 Amazon e-gift card. To be entered in the raffle, your child must be (1) within the age range of this study, (2) reside in the United States, and (3) be clearly visible on camera. Children may only participate once. The winner will be drawn once the target number of participants has been reached (approximately 100). We will notify participants when the raffle is complete, regardless of the outcome.