An Experimental Investigation of the Reinforcing and Extinguishing Effects of Implicit Rewards on Children's Handwriting

Abstract

Two studies were conducted to investigate the effects of feedback of results, verbal praise, approval stamps and sweets as rewards for the correct letter-writing responses of typical elementary school children. The first study examined the effects of age and group-size upon the children's responses to variations in reward-administration procedures. Data were collected on the principal dependent variable of handwriting, comments and complaints were recorded, and a post-intervention questionnaire administered.