The Effects of Positive Reinforcement on Academic Performance
Positive reinforcement refers to the act of rewarding behavior to increase the chance of it being repeated. The idea of positive reinforcement comes from B.F. Skinner̵7;s theory of operant conditioning, and according to the theory, behavior persists if it is rewarded and diminishes if it is not rewarded. Teachers have used positive reinforcement in their attempts to modify students' academic performance.
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Behavioral Reinforcement
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The use of behavioral or social reinforcement on students with disruptive, withdrawn or aggressive behavior is likely to improve their behavior in the classroom, such as raising hands to answer questions, remaining seated and working without disturbing other student. In turn, such behaviors lead to improved academic performance, according to a web page on the University of Kansas website. Reinforcement is more effective when teachers reward students with something the students prefer. Observing what students are doing during their free time is one of the ways in which teachers can identify what students like, according to the University of Kansas website.
Instructional Reinforcement
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Instructional reinforcement refers to the use of verbal, symbolic or physical rewards for desirable academic achievement, according to a 1988 study published at Education NorthWest. Instructional reinforcement is more effective than behavioral reinforcement because it produces equal outcomes as those gained from combining the two reward methods, according to the study. An example of verbal reward is when a teacher praises a student for completed homework or improved grades. Symbolic rewards include pinning the student̵7;s picture on the bulletin board. A physical reward might include tangible objects such as candy or stationery.
Nutrition
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Nutrition influences children̵7;s physical and cognitive development. Eating unhealthful food can lead to poor health conditions such as obesity, and obesity has a negative effect on academic performance because it lowers cognition control, according to a 2012 study published in the "Cerebral Cortex Journal." Obesity reduces the ability to govern the cognitive control network, which is responsible for monitoring action. Through rewards, parents can reinforce healthy eating habits and improve the chances that their children will perform better in school.
Interaction
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Children̵7;s ability to interact with other people can influence their academic performance. Children who do not possess prosocial skills are likely to record poor academic performance, according to a web page on Auburn University's website. Problems such as anxiety, shyness and low self-esteem hamper the children̵7;s ability to interact positively with others. Parents and teachers can use rewards to reinforce prosocial skills such as communication, sharing and self-regulation.
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