Study of 91 elementary school pupils indicates that in regular classroom situations spelling proficiency can be increased through the use of material and social reinforcement. (Author)

The study evaluated a reinforcement program in which three mothers earned lottery tickets and won prizes for the progress made by their handicapped preschool children during home based intervention. (Author)

Three experiments analyze correspondence training as a chain of five events consisting of a promise, a series of behaviors leading from the promise to its nonverbal fulfillment (called "intermediate behavior"), a nonverbal behavior that fulfills the promise, a verbal report, and a nonverbal (or reported) behavior. Eight three- to…

Research studies on questioning techniques are reviewed, and a list of suggestions regarding the role of the teacher in the art of questioning concludes the article. Suggestions include: avoid using questions to introduce lessons; keep content-oriented questions specific; do not expect students to guess what you mean. (KC)

The study evaluated the training progress of 38 institutionalized severely or profoundly retarded adults who received either paired social praise and edible reinforcement or social praise only. Results stressed the need for reinforcer sampling before initiating skill training. (DB)

Discusses the positive effects of contingent rewards (verbal praise and house-points) as effective reinforcers of correct handwriting responses in elementary classrooms. Points out that direct contingency rewards proved effective in changing behavior, while implicit contingency rewards possessed aversive qualities. (JD)

The author asserts that students can get "hooked" on praise to the point that they limit their creativity and manipulate others in search of it. He notes that teachers too may use praise manipulatively. He suggests ways for kicking this habit, primarily through more objective reinforcement messages. Three educators respond. (SJL)

Negative reinforcement drinkers scored significantly and consistently higher on all alcohol consumption indices, and data from an alcoholic sample showed that 93 percent of the alcoholics would be classified as escape drinkers. (Author)

Having writers ask questions about their own papers promotes commitment to the revising and proofreading process. Students can ask teachers or peers the following: (1) What do you like about my paper? (2) What questions do you have about my paper? (3) What kinds of polishing does my paper need? (RL)

Recreational reading was encouraged in a sixth-grade class through a "Famous People Auction Project." For each book read and reported on during the year, students accumulated play money, with which they could bid at an auction for mementoes the teacher had solicited from celebrities. (SJL)

By use of student-selected consequences and an individual token reinforcement program, a special education student's habitual slouching in his chair was decreased and other positive behavior changes occurred. Procedures were carried out in the usual classroom setting, required only available school personnel and an inexpensive reward. (DS)

Examines the effects of reward contingency and positive performance feedback on subsequent intrinsic motivation for an enjoyable task. Subjects were 93 high school students. (CM)