Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the elimination of fear of failure as an incentive for learning. Forty volunteer male and female subjects from the University of Maryland, participating in a 7 week gymnastic course, served as subjects. Subjects were equally and randomly assigned to one of two treatments; Group 1 (control) and Group 2 (fear elimination). At the end of the course subjects were tested on skill ability, and knowledge ability. A multivariate analysis was employed. Results indicated that the control group performed significantly better than the fear elimination group with regard to written exams and the final grade. There was no significant differences with regard to skill ability. It was generally concluded that the elimination of fear was not an effective incentive for learning and that the traditional method of evaluation, the awarding of grades with the fear of failure, was effective in facilitating learning. Verf.-Referat