Role of Reward in Shaping Elementary Students’ Perceived Interest in Studies: A Comparative Study of Public and Private Schools

Abstract

The research examined how reward practices could help in increasing the perceived interest in studies among students at the elementary school level with a comparison between the students in the public and the private schools under District Sialkot. The quantitative methodology and descriptive survey design were used, and a sample of 600 students was used to gather data in the form of a self-created questionnaire on reward practices. The results showed that the students in private schools portrayed a higher degree of reward practices than the students in the public schools held. Furthermore, there was a considerable positive correlation between reward practices and the interest of students in studies in the two sectors with the correlation being greater in the case of the private schools. The findings also showed that the perceived degree of reward practices was significantly different between the public and the private institutions. In sum, the paper has underscored the relevance of systematic reward systems in promoting motivation and academic participation among the elementary students. It is also suggested that the practice of rewards in the public schools be reinforced in order to increase the interest of the students and raise the learning outcomes.