In a classroom setting, there are many systems of behavior management. Behavior management uses different strategies to either decrease an unwanted behavior, such as a temper tantrum, or increase a desirable behavior, such as the completion of homework assignments. A common way for modifying behavior in a classroom setting is known as a token economy. The goal of a token economy system is to increase a target behavior through the usage of tokens that are exchangeable for backup reinforcers (Alberto & Troutman, 2009, pg. 230). According to Alberto and Troutman (2009), token economies are used in both special education classrooms, as well as general education classrooms.
According to Alberto and Troutman (2009), in order for a token economy system to properly work, there must be two components: the tokens, and then the backup reinforcers. An example of a token could be a sticker on a sticker sheet, and an example of a backup reinforcer could be a no homework pass. They go on to state that, “The tokens themselves should have no innate value; the backup items should have the value to the students” (Alberto & Troutman, 2009, pg. 230). In other words, the tokens should not be something
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With its similarities to Operant Conditioning and positive reinforcement, its main goal is to increase a target, appropriate behavior. Through the knowledge suggested by Ormrod (2015), and Alberto and Troutman (2009), I can conclude that B.F. Skinner’s theory of Operant Conditioning and its method of positive reinforcement, which is under John Watson’s theory of Behaviorism, will help in using token economies to modify behaviors in a classroom setting. From animals to children, this theory of Operant Conditioning works and works well with token economies. It’s almost a necessary tool that a teacher has at their disposal to help strengthen their teaching and modify the behavior of their
Behavior modification is based on the principles of operant conditioning, which were developed by American behaviorist B.F. Skinner. In his research, he put a rat in a cage later known as the Skinner Box, in which the rat could receive a food pellet by pressing on a bar. The food reward acted as a reinforcement by strengthening the rat's bar-pressing behavior. Skinner studied how the rat's behavior changed in response to differing patterns of reinforcement. By studying the way the rats operated on their environment, Skinner formulated the concept of operant conditioning, through which behavior could be shaped by reinforcement or lack of it. Skinner considered his discovery applicable to a wide range of both human and animal behaviors(“Behavior,” 2001).
Operant conditioning is changing behavior through the use of reinforcement after the desired action is given; a behavior that is rewarded positively is more likely to continue and a behavior that is rewarded negatively would likely stop occurring (Santrock,2014). In addition to reinforcement, Skinner also talks about punishment. Reinforcement increases the probability an action or behavior will be repeated, while punishment is intended to decrease a behavior (McLeod, 2015). When Laurie was younger, she thought she was being sent to school every day to socialize with her friends and that learning was a secondary, unintentional happenstance. In third grade, compared to the other students in her class, she was falling short in reading and math.
According to Skinner’s theories, “Reinforcement does not strengthen the response instance that produces the reinforcer.” Rather, reinforcement can increase the likelihood that a comparable response may occur within the future. For one bottom-line, “behavior is not caused by something that has not yet happened.” Similar to operant conditioning, “the emission of a response reflects past conditioning, so the response occurs because similar responses were reinforced earlier, not because it will be reinforced later.” Skinner agreed that the “initial high response rate seen in extinction sessions exemplified this important aspect of operant conditioning” (Iversen, 1992, pp. 1325-1327). Theoretically, Skinner identified two aspects of reinforcement, one is the “pleasing effect of reinforcing stimuli, the other is their strengthening action.” Furthermore, Skinner emphasized that “feeling pleased by an event does not necessarily make a person want to repeat the respons...
...eading to behavior modification and the idea of token economy. Behavior modification is a fairly simple concept in which the negative reinforcement is removed and is replaced by a desirable reinforcement in order to achieve the wanted behavior. This type of modification has been used in treating many conditions such as addictions, autism, and many other psychological issues.
Phillips, E. (1968). "Achievement Place: Token Reinforcement Procedures in a Home-style Rehabilitation Setting." Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 1: 213-223.
A1 – Skinner believed that behaviour in setting which is reinforced tends to be repeated and behaviour that is not reinforced tends to die out or be weakened. Positive reinforcement should be used in setting to strengthen behaviour. Negative reinforcement can also strengthen behaviour because it stops or removes an unpleasant experience. Positive reinforcement can be shown by rewarding good behaviour with stickers and golden time. Negative reinforcement can be shown by doing the opposite of positive reinforcement with no stickers and no golden time.
...he benefits the intervention is meant for. Tokens may be given when not earned or withheld when earned therefore not allowing for the reinforcements which should be earned. This is an excellent example of why teacher training should be a support provided before the intervention phase is initiated.
teach new skills and decrease challenging behaviors” (pg. 24). Based on my own observation, I’ve seen teachers implement a token economy (e.g., happy faces, stars, and stickers of different forms) to shape and reinforce positive behavior in the classroom. To maintain instructional control, tokens would be delivered immediately to a student when following simple instructions (e.g., following circle time, cleaning
In second grade I was apart of a wild classroom. Their was a lot of chaos from all the young children. My teacher struggled to get everyone on task and to complete our work. After some time my teacher decided to make up a reward system (positive reinforcement). The children in the classroom were able to earn tickets for doing their homework, being respectful, and many other things. We were able to save these tickets and cash them in on fridays for treats, toys, or even sometimes extra recess. The teacher had a separate system for when we misbehaved. There were 3 colors you could earn everyday. If you weren’t on task, out of your seat, or just being disruptive she would change your color from green to yellow. If it happened again you got a red card and lost your tickets you earned for that day. This is a perfect example of positive punishment. It gave each child an opportunity to earn tickets for good behavior, and a warning system with the cards that possibly would lead to losing your earned tickets. Our teacher was using operant conditioning to produce a change in our
Personal examples of a behaviorist style of instruction are based on the widely renowned theory by B.F. Skinner, which in the classroom can be summarized by reinf...
The article thoroughly explained how the behavior system worked in their school and gave examples of how the program was implemented and showed improvements. In reading this article, it only provided little information behind the data that was involved in using the program. Overall, the article provided sufficient information has to how the technology can help improve classroom
In this paper I will be discussing the information I have learned from the article “From Positive Reinforcement to Positive Behaviors”, by Ellen A. Sigler and Shirley Aamidor. The authors stress the importance of positive reinforcement. The belief is that teachers and adults should be rewarding appropriate behaviors and ignoring the inappropriate ones. The authors’ beliefs are expressed by answering the following questions: Why use positive reinforcement?, Are we judging children’s behaviors?, Why do children behave in a certain way?, Do we teach children what to feel?, Does positive reinforcement really work?, and How does positive reinforcement work?. The following work is a summary of "Positive Reinforcement to Positive Behaviors" with my thoughts and reflection of the work in the end.
Skinner’s theory operant conditioning is a theory that I feel most can say they agree with or they like the way he thinks. Speaking for myself I think his theory of operant conditioning is right on point. Although as I said in my discussion last week a lot of his theories and experiments were done on animals and not a lot done on humans and I think that plays a big part in his theory of why I agree and disagree with it. I only disagree because of the simple fact that humans are completely different from animals, obviously. What I do agree with in his theory are the positive and negative reinforcements, and the positive and negative punishments because although those were tested on animals as well a lot of that can relate to humans and how we act as far as our behavior. In my own opinion of his theory I feel like his operant conditioning would work rather well on children. I know for instance as positive reinforcement for my son I will give him a snack that he loves if he doesn’t act like a wild monkey in the store. Therefore, I see it working better on children rather than adults. In the video I watched from week 5 of operant conditioning in the first video he talks about how the bird received a reward every time the bird pecked or turned but he also says that this worked very well with the bird because every time he pecked and turn he didn’t get a reward each time only
B.F. Skinner is a major contributor to the Behavioral Theory of personality, a theory that states that our learning is shaped by positive and negative reinforcement, punishment, modeling, and observation. An individual acts in a certain way, a.k.a. gives a response, and then something happens after the response. In order for an action to be repeated in the future, what happens after the response either encourages the response by offering a reward that brings pleasure or allows an escape from a negative situation. The former is known as positive reinforcement, the latter known as negative reinforcement (Sincero, 2012). A teenager who received money for getting an “A” is being positively reinforced, while an individual who skips a class presentation is being negatively reinforced by escaping from the intense fear and anxiety that would have occurred during the presentation.
The reward system is a beneficial behavioral modification teaching method, which promotes more positive behaviors in the classroom (Charles & Barr, 2014). Many teachers generally use the reward method of praise within their classrooms for a variety of reasons. The first advantage of using praise within the classroom is because it encourages students do repeat positive behaviors in the classroom. Many children are simply looking for attention and enjoy it, which makes it a great technique to use in the classroom (Charles & Barr, 2014). Another advantage for this reward type is that due to the encouragement, the students are able to perform at a better rate; students excel academically. A final advantage to using praise is that it is easily implemented into the classroom and requires little to no preparation. This makes the reward method a great addition for teachers as well as students because students get instant feedback without