A researcher gave identical puzzles to five-year-old children in two groups, group A and group B. The children in group A were promised candy if they completed the puzzles quickly and well. The children in group B were not promised a reward but were encouraged to do the best that they could. If the researcher argues that overjustification occurred, what would most likely happen during the experiment?

Group A did not work as hard or as well as group B and would be less likely to spontaneously work on similar puzzles in the future.

Explanation:

Over justification, effect is a psychological phenomenon where people tend to lose interest in an activity when intrinsic motivation is replaced by extrinsic rewards. person not only lose interest in an activity but less likely to engage in that activity. people tend to see that external reward as bribe to do that activity which was earlier they were doing for internal appeasement.

As per the question Group A is externally motivated to do work, it would unlikely that they engage in such a similar activity in the future.