ERIC Number: EJ1229800
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0748-8491
EISSN: N/A
Teacher Praise-to-Reprimand Ratios: Behavioral Response of Students at Risk for EBD Compared with Typically Developing Peers
Caldarella, Paul; Larsen, Ross A. A.; Williams, Leslie; Wills, Howard P.; Wehby, Joseph H.
Education and Treatment of Children, v42 n4 p447-468 2019
Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) often receive low rates of teacher praise and high rates of teacher reprimands, though they may respond more positively to praise and more negatively to reprimands than their typically developing peers. Teacher praise-to-reprimand ratios (PRRs) are associated with increased student engagement, but more research is necessary to further explore how these ratios affect student behavior, particularly for students with or at risk for EBD. Commonly 3:1 or 4:1 is recommended as a desirable PRR, but students with EBD may need higher ratios to improve their classroom behavior. In our study of 540 students and 149 teachers, we found that as teacher PRR increased the engagement of at-risk students increased, though engagement for typically developing peers did not. A PRR of approximately 9:1 was needed for students at risk for EBD to approximate the engagement levels of their typically developing peers. No effect of PRR on disruption rates was found for either student category.
Descriptors: Positive Reinforcement, Negative Reinforcement, Classroom Techniques, Emotional Disturbances, Behavior Disorders, Student Behavior, At Risk Students, Learner Engagement, Elementary School Teachers, Elementary School Students
West Virginia University Press. P.O. Box 6295, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506. Tel: 866-988-7737; Tel: 304-293-8400; Fax: 304-293-6585; Web site: http://www.wvupress.com/index.php
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Authoring Institution: N/A
IES Funded: Yes
Grant or Contract Numbers: R324A120344