International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume V, Issue VII, July 2021 | ISSN 2454–6186

A Study on Increasing Positive Behaviors Using Positive Reinforcement Techniques

Vivetha Gunaretnam
(Dip. Counselling, BSW (hons), MSW (c), Sri Lanka)

National Institute of Social Development, Sri Lanka

Abstract: Positive reinforcement works by presenting a motivating/reinforcing stimulus to the person after the desired behavior is exhibited, making the behavior more likely to happen in the future. Classroom management is one of the most common problems facing by teachers because disruptive students take up valuable learning time. Students with disruptive, defiant, and disrespectful behaviors often make it difficult for teachers to teach and students to learn. The techniques based on positive reinforcement lack popular and professional acceptability because they are time-intensive, offer little compensation for educators, contradict popular views of developmental psychology, threaten special interest groups, are socially unacceptable, and demean humans. To investigate more on this area, the researcher identified positive reinforcement techniques applied by school teachers on primary students, the effectiveness of the reinforcement techniques for reward, and identified social work interventions to promote positive reinforcement. To conduct this study the researcher selected the Manmunai North zone from Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. This research study was explored through a mixed-method and sequential explanatory research design. The tools such as interview schedule and questionnaire were used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed through SPSS software and thematic analysis. The researcher was able to find the techniques under sensory, natural, material, generalized and social reinforcements. From the techniques most of the teachers agreed with positive reinforcement techniques from sensory, natural, material, generalized and social reinforcements, increase the desirable behavior high in the academic performances except two techniques from generalized reinforcement. The researcher found that the issues in promoting positive reinforcement techniques through the individual level, group level system level, and the social work interventions also found under in mentioned levels. From the overall findings, the researcher can able to induct a hybrid mixture of the explanatory model from the combination of reinforcement model and social interaction model in Social Work Practice.

Key words: Positive reinforcement, techniques, school teachers, primary students

1.INTRODUCTION

In our everyday living, it is important to realize that our behaviors play a major part in assisting us to act and behave in different settings such as at home, school, workplace, and society. Good behaviors can lead to better lives, high achievements in related fields, and good relationships with others. On the other hand, individuals that have bad behaviors might have some unfavorable outcomes in their lives. However, these inappropriate behaviors can be replaced with desirable behaviors using behavior modification techniques. Many principles can be applied in encouraging and increasing a target’s good behaviors that include reinforcements, token economy, punishment, extinction, and classical conditioning. Many kinds of research have shown that positive reinforcements are proven to be more effective in practice as compared to other principles which have some flaws when applying in certain settings. Therefore this research aims to investigate the positive reinforcement techniques applied by school teachers on school-going students in primary unit special reference from Batticaloa District. The following chart shows the conceptual framework of this study.