The+Pros+and+Cons+of+Positive+and+Negative+Reinforcement+and+Rewards

Reinforcement theory is the main idea that reinforcers can control behavior. Bf Skinner developed the reinforcement theory through the study of behavior control methods with lab rats. He was convinced that behavior could be altered by simply using positive and negative types of reinforcement. This theory has been successful to help manage classroom discipline, especially with children with ADD and other behavior disorders, however many critics disagree with the notion that animal experiments can be used as a basis for manipulating human behaviors. The success of reinforcement theory is disregarded by some as conditioned reflexes and habit formation which equate to rote learning without understanding.

http://wik.ed.uiuc.edu/index.php/Reinforcement_theory http://learningdisabilities.about.com/od/mo/g/negreinforcer.htm http://www.teachervision.fen.com/add-and-adhd/teaching-methods-and-management/10453.html http://www.behavioradvisor.com/FBA.html http://behavioradvisor.com/Shaping.html http://behavioradvisor.com/BehRecord.html http://www.behavioradvisor.com/SchedulesOfReinforcement.html http://behavioradvisor.com/Tokens.html
 * __ Positive Reinforcement __**: presenting a reward after a student performs the desired behavior.
 * Pros **:
 * Positive reinforcement naturally occurs in daily life
 * It increases the likelihood that desired behavior will reoccur
 * praise, rewards and reinforcers are ways for teachers to encourage students
 * Potentially increases the frequency of productive behaviors and decreases the frequency of disruptive behaviors.
 * Successful for managing behavior in children who have ADD and behavioral disorders
 * Solid support in literature says they have to find what reinforces students. These reinforcers have to be inexpensive, easily dispensed, and require little time
 * The proper use of rewards can allow a student to develop his or her own intrinsic motivation
 * Cons **:
 * Rewards sacrifice the interest of the subject
 * Removes students ability to attempt new things for fear of losing the reward
 * Threatens individuals' freedom as autonomous human beings (people become less intrinsically motivated to behave)
 * No long term attention, because students only need to retain enough to receive the reward
 * Reinforcers can potentially be expensive and/ or time-consuming
 * Can create a sense of competition in the classroom
 * It is a result of habit formation instead of integrity
 * Can be seen as a rote learning without understanding
 * If the student does not find the tangible item (reward) to be worthy of the behavior, then the student's behavior may not be reinforced
 * Rewards are ineffective at solving maladaptive social actions
 * Often specific rewards do not generalize past the classroom
 * __ Negative Reinforcement __**** : ** Taking away an aversive stimulus after a desired behavior
 * Pros **:
 * It is quickly and easily administered
 * Terminates behavior quickly
 * Can be reinforcing to the teacher (e.g. when the problem student is removed)
 * Cons **:
 * Ineffective for students with chronic behavior problems
 * Students begin to feel angry. fearful, and hopeless and associate these feelings with the teacher
 * Terminates behavior temporarily
 * Damages self-esteem
 * Students will not want to develop and initiate new ideas because they are afraid of failure
 * No significant learning occurs when there is no hope for a positive outcome
 * Motivating students is extremely difficult
 * __ Classroom Applications __** :
 * Token Economy: students are given some type of token for appropriate behaviors and those tokens can later be exchanged for prizes or privileges
 * Contingency Contracting: this contract between the student and teacher specifies what behaviors are appropriate and which are not by listing what types of rewards or punishments will be received.
 * Shaping: a method which assists you in setting goals for the behavior of a certain student
 * Behavior Charts
 * Incentive System: should involve all the students in the classroom, designed to shape a misbehaving child's behavior
 * Encouragement System: The teacher could focus on one target behavior to work on with the erring student, first ignoring his other misbehaviors.
 * Resources: **