Four severely behaviorally disturbed children ranging in age from three years seven months to six years ten months participated in a reinforcer preference study. Results of individual exposure to social, primary, or social/primary reinforcer classes within a standardized task-instruction format indicated task performance was equivalent across…

The most important function of reinforcement in computer assisted instruction is a motivational one, providing students with a reason for learning. Discusses primary, secondary, and generalized reinforcers and four factors influencing the effectiveness of reinforcers (timing, appropriateness, relevancy, and configuration). (JN)

Teachers should demonstrate a positive approach in the classroom to give more credibility to their statements about the importance of talking and writing positively. (RL)

Results of this study indicate that sample group of unskilled laborers were more productive working under a schedule of continuous reinforcement than under a varied schedule, despite higher average earnings during the latter program. (RW)

Forty-four third graders were given a two-choice conceptual discrimination learning task. The two major factors were (1) four treatment groups varying at the extremes on two personality measures, approval motivation and locus of control and (2) sex. (MS)

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brief, 2-minute pre-session stimulus preference assessment in predicting the levels of responding of four students (ages 6-9) with profound multiple disabilities. Use of the identified preferred stimulus resulted in higher levels of student responding during the instructional condition across all four…

Students with externalizing disorders make up from three to five percent of the population in public school classrooms and are some of the most difficult students to manage in an educational setting. Behavioral excesses and deficits exhibited by these students are a major factor in poor retention rates for new teachers while the students…

Because the literature suggests that aerobic exercise is associated with physical health and psychological well-being, there is a concern with discovering how to improve adherence to such exercise. There is growing evidence that self-motivation, as measured by the Dishman Self-Motivation Inventory (SMI), is a redictor of adherence to regular…

Investigates third- and fourth-grade children's verbal evaluations of syllables paired with different reward schedules (full, partial, or none) for "pleasantness" and "curiosity." (Author/ED)

The self-perception theory which predicts that the introduction of extrinsic rewards for behavior that was intrinsically rewarding may decrease overall motivation was tested on 44 mildly retarded institutionalized adolescents. (Author/CL)

It is suggested that the theory of behavior based on conditioning processes can be reconciled with new data, but only by revising certain tacit behaviorist assumptions about the parameters of the conditioning process. (Author/AM)

Describes how group leaders can improve therapeutic outcomes by understanding the importance of hope as a curative factor, and by learning specific strategies for its installation in counseling groups. (Author/KS)

A group of seventh graders was challenged to decide between achievement and social approval while playing a two-choice probability game. Girls sacrificed approval for achievement more often than boys and did not reduce their efforts to achieve even when there was no opportunity for approval. (KH)

Discussion of student motivation and participation, emphasizing the teacher's role in managing students' behavior. (ST)

Authors conclude that reinforcers provided by the behavioral approach provide immediate, short-range motivation for the child to acquire needed skills and information, while fostering the intrinsic desire to learn. (Author)