Previous research has suggested that the understanding of modesty--downplaying one's achievements to evoke a positive social evaluation--develops in the primary school years. However, very little is known about how children's understanding of modesty is associated with social contextual factors, such as audience type. A sample of 92 children aged…

This article provides an analysis of issues related to personal "dignity" and social validity in schools. Specifically, dignity is defined in terms of individual success and independence, while "social validity" is defined in terms of the system as a whole. These definitions are explored in the context of schoolwide systems of positive behavior…

This article responds to the need to synthesize theory and research in educational psychology by introducing the Thriving with Social Purpose (TSP) conceptual framework. TSP results when the four components of human motivation--goals, capability beliefs, context beliefs, and emotions--are amplified in dynamic, mutually reinforcing patterns. The…

Educators from four states participated in a pilot study to enhance and field-test an assessment guide for assisting teams in creating student-centered behavior plans. The assessment guide attempts to consciously match the multi-layered tenets of positive behavior support with the behavioral intervention and support process for maximum…

The journey children make from tube feeding to oral feeding is personal for each child and family. There is a sequence of predictable plateaus that children climb as they move toward orally eating. By better understanding this sequence, parents and children can maximize the development, learning, enjoyment and confidence at each plateau. The…

The strengths of Black youths lie in their abilities to resist the barriers that they encounter in the various environments in which they exist. Yet the media and social science literature have defined the youths in terms of the pathology of their environments rather than focusing on the assets that Black youths use in such environments. Thus,…

The effects of positive, negative and neutral reinforcement conditions upon the manual dexterity test scores of adult retardates were assessed in a sheltered workshop setting. (Author)

Candy or sugary rewards present serious problems of dental decay and overweight for the handicapped child who may not be able to brush and floss his teeth thoroughly. (CL)

The social interactions of three children were studied in a nursery school classroom. Collections of cards termed "mixies" were used as response consequences. By the third session, each child performed target behavior everytime he had an opportunity to do so. (HMV)

THIS STUDY TESTED METHODS OF INCREASING TASK-ORIENTED BEHAVIOR OF INATTENTIVE SECOND-GRADE PUPILS TO HELP DEVELOP EFFECTIVE WORK HABITS AND ATTITUDES AT AN EARLY AGE. THE ASSUMPTION WAS MADE THAT THE INATTENTIVE BEHAVIOR OF PUPILS WAS MAINTAINED, IN PART, BY THE REINFORCEMENT UNINTENTIONALLY PROVIDED BY FREQUENT TEACHER REMINDERS FOR THE CHILD TO…

The hypothesis that teacher reinforcement behavior has a different effect on "internal" children (those who believe that they can affect their environment through their own behavior) than on "external" children (those who feel controlled by fate or influences much stronger than themselves) is the basis of this study. This hypothesis is derived…

This manual is designed to help parents apply reinforcement theory in managing their children. The program explains how parents can systematically use consequences to teach children in positive ways. Units include: When to Reinforce; How to Reinforce; Reinforcement and Punishment in Everyday Life; and Why Parents (and Teachers) Goof; the Criticism…

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of three treatments of knowledge of results on the acquisition of an open complex motor skill requiring speed and accuracy (coincidence-anticipation). The 75 volunteer male subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatment groups. One group was given informative knowledge of results;…

The study attempted to modify the on-task and task completion rates of three kindergarten children by altering the contingencies of reinforcement associated with these two work behaviors. During baseline, a fixed number of tokens was provided for task completion. While the remainder of the class remained in this condition, teacher attention was…