REINFORCEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM

Role of Positive & Negative Reinforcement in the Classroom

Name of the Writer

Name of the Institution

Abstract

This research aim is to improve management aspect such as behaviours, attendance and class work of second year group of secondary students. In order to do so, the paper analyzing how positive and negative reinforcement works in the school setting, and how teachers play a significant role in this regard. The study employs a sample of 125 students and eight teachers. The data is collected through focus group discussion, in-depth interviews and direct observations. Positive reinforcement resulted in increasing self-confidence of student and creates a learning environment in a classroom. On the contrary, negative reinforcement in comparison to the positive reinforcement precedes the unpleasant response and as a result of disappearance increases the frequency of the desired behaviour. The extent of reinforcement is based on the desired behaviour from students. Most of the teachers preferred token economies as reinforcement strategy. The effective strategies of positive and negative reinforcement can facilitate in achieving the desired behaviour in the classroom. Hence, the extent and frequency must be appropriately chosen.

Table of Contents

Abstract2

Table of Contents3

I. Introduction5

A. Background5

B. Research Questions6

II. Literature Review7

A. Role of Middle Management7

B. Reinforcement and Behavioural Change7

C. Background and Development of Reinforcement Theory8

D. Positive Reinforcement9

E. Negative Reinforcement10

F. Reinforcement, Punishment, and Extinction10

G. Reinforcement Theory Applied to Education Settings12

III. Methodology13

A. Research Approach13

B. Sample Size13

C. Research Design13

D. Data Analysis Technique14

E. Ethical Considerations14

IV. Presentation and Analysis15

A. Teacher's Survey15

B. Student's Survey25

C. Use of Reinforcement in the Classroom35

1. Extent of Positive Reinforcement35

2. Negative Reinforcement Extent36

D. Reinforcement Results in Classroom37

E. Preferred Reinforcement Strategies & Interventions39

1. Positive Reinforcement Strategies39

2. Intervention Teacher Prefer to Reinforce Children41

F. Reinforcement and Student's Attendance42

G. Reinforcement and Student Behavior43

H. Reinforcement and Class Work43

V. Conclusion and Recommendations45

VI. Reflection on Work47

References48

Appendix A51

Appendix B52

Role of Positive & Negative Reinforcement in the Classroom

I. Introduction

A. Background

In order to change inappropriate behaviour or teach something new, the first thing to do is to identify it as objectively as possible. For this, it is important to define the reinforcement in specific terms that require a minimum of interpretation, i.e. clearly, so that it can be observed (measured and recorded) by different people without having to make assumptions and / or subjective assessments. We analyze any behaviour as follows (Cihak & Gama, 2008, pp. 556-568):

Stimulus? Conduct? Consequence

Rewarding students for academic behaviour continues to be a substantive issue in education. Teachers often sense of unpreparedness to tackle with behaviour of students; they consider this considerably impedes with their teaching ability to effectively take in children with behavioural problems in practices of classroom. Hence, being aware of knowing the relationship between behaviour and its outcomes, and how types of consequences use is fundamental to effective teaching (Bryk & Schneider, 2002, p.26).

The study is based on two key objectives including: How does using rewards and positive reinforcement change positive behaviour? What are the advantages and disadvantages of using rewards and positive reinforcement? The study needs to be conducted in order to understand that how can students be reinforced based on ...