Peer reinforcement as a function of teacher reinforcement in the modification of deviant behavior in a kindergarten-age boy

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Anne N. Albuero (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Advisor
Nancy White

Abstract: While recent research has shown that the social behaviors of a child's peer group exert substantial control over his school-related behavior, attempts to systematically manipulate responses for the purpose of adjusting problem behaviors of individual children have received little attention in the literature. The present study investigated several methods of directing peer reinforcement responses in an effort to modify the anti-social behaviors of a six year-old boy with the teacher acting as the behavior change agent. Various behaviors of both the subject and his peers were recorded under the following conditions: baseline (no treatment); peers instructed by teacher to reinforce socially subject for "being good" (pro-social behaviors); instructions by teacher to peers to reinforce appropriate and to ignore inappropriate subject behaviors as promoted by a 2-light signal device operated by teacher, and; teacher instruction with visual prompt (as above) plus specific social reinforcement by teacher of appropriate peer responses. In general, the final condition involving teacher instruction plus prompts plus teacher reinforcement resulted in the highest rates of both appropriate peer and appropriate subject behaviors.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 1974

Email this document to