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Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis logoLink to Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
. 1968 Summer;1(2):139–150. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-139

Rules, praise, and ignoring: elements of elementary classroom control1

Charles H Madsen Jr 1,2, Wesley C Becker 1,2, Don R Thomas 1,2
PMCID: PMC1310990  PMID: 16795170

Abstract

An attempt was made to vary systematically the behavior of two elementary school teachers to determine the effects on classroom behavior of Rules, Ignoring Inappropriate Behaviors, and showing Approval for Appropriate Behavior. Behaviors of two children in one class and one child in the other class were recorded by observers, as were samples of the teachers' behavior. Following baseline recordings, Rules, Ignoring, and Approval conditions were introduced one at a time. In one class a reversal of conditions was carried out. The main conclusions were that: (a) Rules alone exerted little effect on classroom behavior, (b) Ignoring Inappropriate Behavior and showing Approval for Appropriate Behavior (in combination) were very effective in achieving better classroom behavior, and (c) showing Approval for Appropriate Behaviors is probably the key to effective classroom management.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Hart B. M., Reynolds N. J., Baer D. M., Brawley E. R., Harris F. R. Effect of contingent and non-contingent social reinforcement on the cooperative play of a preschool child. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968 Spring;1(1):73–76. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-73. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
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