The modification and maintenance of attending behaviour with elementary school boys
Date
1987
Authors
Berg, Dolina Joan
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Abstract
Three male students of average intelligence and exhibiting high levels of disruptive behaviour, were selected for investigation in this study. The subjects were drawn from intermediate classrooms in the public school system in British Columbia . The research methodology utilised was single-subject design across subjects. This experiment investigated the effects of a teacher-implemented behaviour management intervention plan on the attending behaviour of single male students at the elementary school level. It also evaluated the impact of behavioural strategies on the on-task behaviour of their male peers. The maintenance of improved attending skills was examined, as was the effect of increased levels of attending on academic performance. Data obtained during baseline, intervention and follow- up phases of the study were collected by a group of observers who recorded the frequency of on-task behaviour at timed intervals over a total recording period of 27 days across the three experimental phases. The findings indicated that the application of a behavioural contingency significantly improved the attending behaviour of individual male students. The results also demonstrated that vicarious behavioural effects on male peers were noteworthy. Moreover, the improvement in on-task behaviour for subjects and male peers was maintained in two cases out of three during the follow-up phase. The effects of an attention contingency on academic performance were not supported by solid scientific data in this study.