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ERIC Number: ED092751
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1973
Pages: 25
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Sociobehavioral Approach to Enhancing Adaptive Behavior and Reducing Deviant Behavior of Adults in a Learning Group.
Edwards, Dan W.; Jahns, Irwin R.
The purpose of this study was to determine the applicability of sociobehavioral principles and techniques for influencing or changing the behavior of adults in a learning group. The behavior on which this study focused was off-task behavior, defined as that behavior inconsistent or incongruent with the lesson plan for that particular day, or with the subject being discussed. Behavioral data were collected through the use of video equipment and an instrument developed by the experimenters. Working hypotheses stated that: (1) the level of off-task behavior, demonstrated before the experimental condition, would decrease when the three variables of social reinforcement, extinction, and a discriminative stimulus were applied as the experimental condition; and (2) the level of off-task behavior would return to its pre-experimental level when systematic social reinforcement was removed. The findings corroborated these hypotheses. It was concluded that systematic social reinforcement was a necessary condition for bringing about behavioral change, but the data did not permit speculation on whether social reinforcement alone would have effected the observed results. (Author)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A