Two aspects of motivation were investigated in this study: the use of individual incentives to enhance learning, and the effect of different levels of task difficulty on the effectiveness of these individualized incentives. One hundred-forty-two fourth and fifth grade students were subjects. Individual preferences for rewards that would serve as…

This study (N=160 males) examined the cognitive and behavioral effects of overt success feedback on subjects high and low in resultant achievement motivation (RAM). The cognitive effects of overt success feedback were investigated by requesting attributions to effort, ability, luck, and task difficulty concerning performance on a digit-symbol…

Overcorrection is a mild punishment technique that provides for logical consequences of inappropriate behaviors. The method has two components--restitution, during which a disruptive environment is reinstated to a state vastly superior to the original one, and positive practice, during which more appropriate responses are taught to replace the…

Examined with five preschool male children (1 year, 11 months to 2 years, 6 months old) was the effectiveness of a behaviorally oriented treatment program to reduce hyperactivity. Ss were enrolled in a behavior modification class which met for 2 hours per day, 3 days per week, and parents were enrolled in a parent training program. Among findings…

Argues that the most important factor in the success of any teaching method is the teacher's ability to reward children for correct behavior rather than punish them for incorrect behavior. The application of behavior modification principles to language arts instruction and discovery learning is discussed. (CW)

In the best of conceivable worlds, the use of punishment would not be necessary. In the real world of school, however, punishment is sometimes needed. The author provides guidelines for maximizing the positive effects of punishment. (Author/RK)

Underachieving high school students participated in an English program, in which they could select games or other activities as rewards for academic or social skills mastery specified in a weekly contract. Students' game preferences and teacher guidelines on game use were identified. (SJL)

Separate experiments were done with six blind students (ages 16-20 years) to test the effectiveness of using punishment (prerecorded sound of chalk screeching on a blackboard) and positive reinforcement (money) in natural and laboratory settings to reduce "blindisms" (stereotypic behaviors). (Author/DLS)

Available from: Arthur Retlaw and Associates, Inc., Suite 2080, 1603 Orrington Avenue, Evanston, Illinois 60201.

An intensive French course, offered as an experimental summer course at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, was a learning experience in which students were intrinsically motivated. Assumptions of Frank M. Grittner concerning motivating students in language programs are discussed. (SW)

The study compared sentence elaboration, verbal praise, and information feedback training on paired-associate learning; and compared treatments on four second-list transfer paradigms (facilitative, neutral, and interfering). One hundred twenty middle class, high I.Q. second graders were trained to criterion, then given three trials on the transfer…

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of positive and negative reinforcements upon black college students. The perceived objectivity of white evaluators was compared to that of black evaluators. Perceived objectivity being the social reinforcement likely to be accepted, internalized, and complied with in proportion to the…

The effect of fixed, gradually decreasing, or increasing delay of reward in discrimination learning on later delay of gratification was investigated in 150 male first-grade children. Increasing delays were found to facilitate delay behavior. This may be due to acquisition of coping responses or to the extinction of frustration. (GO)

This article reviews four strategies employed to remediate obesity: diet restriction, use of drugs, surgical treatment, and behavior modification. The conclusion is reached that behavior modification is the most effective strategy. (JD)