The relative effectiveness of praise and group competition as motivating incentives affecting task persistence in young children was investigated. As predicted, competition was relatively more effective with 2nd graders than with kindergarten children, with boys than with girls, and with boring tasks than with more ego-involving tasks. However, competition was not significantly more effective than praise except on boring tasks. Competition may not be a very effective incentive for younger school children in view of its possible negative side effects. Praise appears to be simpler and equally effective. (Author)