Bibliographic Details
| Title: |
The Effects of Tactile Vs. Verbal Reinforcement on Attention to Task and Arithmetic Accuracy of Emotionally Disturbed Boys. |
| Authors: |
Clements, J. E., Tracy, D. B. |
| Peer Reviewed: |
N |
| Page Count: |
17 |
| Publication Date: |
1975 |
| Document Type: |
Speeches/Meeting Papers |
| Descriptors: |
Attention Span, Behavior Change, Emotional Disturbances, Exceptional Child Research, Intermediate Grades, Mathematics, Positive Reinforcement, Problem Solving, Success |
| Abstract: |
A study involving 20 emotionally disturbed boys (9- to 11-years-old) was conducted to determine the effects of tactile and verbal reinforcement on attention to task and accuracy. Ss were given arithmetic problems to work during 16 20-minute sessions under four conditions: tactile reinforcement (intermittent touch pressure applied to Ss shoulders as they worked); verbal reinforcement (intermittent praise by the teacher); a combination of tactile and verbal reinforcement; and control treatment (no reinforcement cues). At the end of each period, scores were calculated for each S on both attention to task and accuracy of performance. Results showed that the combination treatment was most effective in producing high attention to task and high accuracy in problem solving; that tactile and verbal reinforcement alone ranked second and third in effectiveness; and that combination, verbal, and tactile treatments were all superior to the control with the exception that verbal reinforcement alone failed to produce higher problem solving accuracy. (Author/SB) |
| Notes: |
Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (Washington, D.C., March 30-April 3, 1975) |
| Journal Code: |
RIEFEB1976 |
| Entry Date: |
1976 |
| Accession Number: |
ED112574 |
| Database: |
ERIC |
