THIS STUDY WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE HOW TO USE NONVERBAL, VISUAL MATERIALS (VISUALS) IN PROMOTING THE ACQUISITION, RETENTION, AND TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE. VISUALS WERE SELECTED FOR SEVERAL LEARNING SITUATIONS WHICH REQUIRED STIMULUS-ORIENTED STUDENT RESPONSES. STUDENTS WERE REQUIRED TO PRACTICE THEIR LEARNING ACTIVITIES WITH THESE VISUALS, MAKING…

Behavioral research presents an analysis of the classroom in which sources of academic success or failure are sought in contingencies of reinforcement functioning in the child's learning environment. Motivation is analyzed in behavioral terms, and behavior principles are proposed as a powerful tool for teachers for the amelioration of behavior…

In behavioral studies of academic performance, accuracy has usually been defined as the number of items correct divided by the number of items assigned. One previous study used an alternative definition--the number of items correct divided by the number of items attempted. It is suggested here that while both measures are useful indices of…

Two groups of five preschool children were trained to press a key for marbles for four sessions of variable ratio reinforcement (VR6). Subsequently, response decrement for the groups was compared during conditions of fixed and variable differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO and VDRO). Fixed DRO was more effective for decreasing response…

Major findings were that: contingent reinforcement was effective in altering behavior; instructions did not augment the efficacy of contingent reinforcement; noncontingent reinforcement was effective for nondeviant students who were told that the reinforcement was actually contingent; and contingent reinforcement led to greater generalization than…

Suggests that situational uncertainty heightens the effect of success and failure on the anxious individual. Tables, graphs, and bibliography. (RW)

Studied males initially angered or not angered by an experimental accomplice. Later shocks were administered to the same accomplice. Subjects were told the shocks would interfere with learning and cause pain or were given no information. Results show angered men receiving hurt instructions and high-victim-pain feedback were most aggressive.…

The effectiveness of various court-ordered punishment dispositions is evaluated. Subjects receiving "no punishment" had a lower probability of future crime than those receiving fines. Repeaters and nonrepeaters did not differ on type of crime, seriousness of crime, or on amount of fine paid at first offense. (Author)

A brief biographical sketch of Burrhus Frederick Skinner is offered, followed by a review of his impact on education and psychology. His research in radical behaviorism, his theoretical contributions, development of programed instruction techniques, token economies, and numerous inventions by himself and his proteges are summarized. (PB)