Incorporate reward prospect into inhibitory control training interventions to strengthen behaviour change effects¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 5 claims (5 for) · 1 study (1 quant-synthesis), q4 · 1 of 1 report an effect size · 5 claims rest on one study

Description¶

Given that reward prospect significantly improves IC, the authors propose using rewards within inhibitory control training (ICT): "Reward may be used to increase the value of health-related cues (e.g., healthy foods) or devalue unhealthy behaviour-related cues". The opportunity to gain rewards for avoiding health risk may improve associative learning and strengthen intervention effects, offering a route to more prolonged behavioural change.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Reward must be contingent on successful inhibition within the training task

Constraints¶

• The article notes future research is needed; the meta-analysis measured transient task-level effects, not long-term training outcomes

Target Learners¶

• Adults in health-behaviour change contexts
• Clinical populations targeted by inhibitory control training

Target Learning Goals¶

• Strengthening self-control and health-related inhibitory behaviour change

Affordances¶

• Inhibitory Control Transient Motivation Sensitive State

Claims¶

• The effect of reward on inhibitory control is not moderated by participant age (children vs adults) [+W]
• A meta-analysis found no evidence that clinical status, including ADHD and substance use disorder samples, moderates the effect of reward on inhibitory control [+W]
• The prospect of reward for successful inhibition significantly improves inhibitory control (SMD = 0.429) compared with no-reward conditions [+W]
• The effect of reward on inhibitory control is not moderated by reward type (monetary vs points vs other) [+W]
• The reward effect on inhibitory control is significant across all six IC task types, but task type significantly moderates the effect, with the largest effect in Stroop tasks [+W]

Related Strategies¶

• Use external reinforcement contingent on successful inhibitory control to improve behavioural regulation

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Burton, S., Knibb, G., & Jones, A. (2021). A meta-analytic investigation of the role of reward on inhibitory control. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1177/17470218211008895