Increasing and Maintaining Rates of Teacher Praise

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of public posting of feedback on the praising behavior of teachers in a classroom for handicapped children. In an ABABCA design, following baseline, the daily rate of teacher praise was posted on a graph in the classroom. To reduce the reactive effects of monitoring, observations of teacher behavior were made using random audio tape recordings. Additionally, public posting feedback was gradually faded in an attempt to facilitate maintenance. The procedure resulted in an increase in teacher praise to a rate nearly twice what was observed during baseline. This behavior change was maintained after the withdrawal of the treatment procedures. The implications of this method are discussed.