NCT07557732 Engaging Mental Effort: Process- and Person-Based Reward Experiences, Effort Reinforcement Intervention, and Cascading Effects on Challenging Tasks
| NCT ID | NCT07557732 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of California, Davis |
| Condition | Performance vs. Effort Rewards |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 180 participants |
| Start Date | 2026-04-08 |
| Primary Completion | 2028-09-01 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.
What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 180 participants in total. It began in 2026-04-08 with a primary completion date of 2028-09-01.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
Brief Summary: The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the influences of children's prior experiences with rewards following successes at school and interventions aimed at influencing children's preferences for challenging cognitive tasks. The main questions this study aims to answer are as follows: 1. Does the frequency of process-based rewards (e.g., rewards for working hard) vs. outcomes-based rewards (i.e., rewards for a good grade) predict children's preferences for challenging cognitive tasks? 2. Does providing rewards for taking on effortful cognitive tasks increase children's preferences for challenging cognitive tasks more than providing rewards for performing well on cognitive tasks? 3. Does receiving rewards for taking on effortful cognitive tasks increase children's challenge-seeking in novel tasks and questionnaires relevant for academic achievement that have not been previously linked with rewards? Participants will complete the following tasks: 1. A matrix completion problem solving task, with options to seek tips for solving problems and options to quit early. 2. A response inhibition task, with options to complete a harder or easier version of the task. 3. A cognitive flexibility task, with options to complete a harder or easier version of the task. 4. A puzzle completion task, with an option to quit early. 5. Answer a set of questions about academic effort 6. Parents will complete a set of questions about how they responded to children's recent successes and failures at school.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: \- Children aged 9.00-13.00 years Exclusion Criteria: * Known or diagnosed developmental disorder (autism, ADHD, other learning disorders or developmental delays)
Contact & Investigator
Jesse Niebaum, PhD
STUDY DIRECTOR
University of California, Davis
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT07557732 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 9 Years or older, up to 13 Years, studying Performance vs. Effort Rewards. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT07557732 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT07557732 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at jcniebaum@ucdavis.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT07557732 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Davis, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT07557732 clinical trial?
NCT07557732 is sponsored by University of California, Davis. The principal investigator is Jesse Niebaum, PhD at University of California, Davis. The trial plans to enroll 180 participants.