KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Theses
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    A Comparison of the Effects of Descriptive Praise and General Praise on Acquisition in Young Children

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Kamana_ku_0099M_15007_DATA_1.pdf (4.279Mb)
    Issue Date
    2016-05-31
    Author
    Kamana, Bertilde Uwizeye
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    62 pages
    Type
    Thesis
    Degree Level
    M.A.
    Discipline
    Applied Behavioral Science
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    Previous research comparing the effects of descriptive praise versus general praise on the acquisition of skills has yielded mixed outcomes. That is, some studies have found descriptive praise to be more effective (Fueyo, Saundergras, & Bushell, 1975), whereas others have found negligible differences between the two types of praise (e.g., Polick, Carr, & Hanney, 2012). The purpose of the current study was to replicate and extend previous research in this area by (a) attempting to isolate the effects of the different types of praise (i.e., without the use of other procedures such as error correction, within-session prompts, or additional reinforcers such as tokens) for teaching letters, phonemes, and sight words to preschool children and (b) determining child preference for the different types of praise. Overall results replicated previous research by showing negligible differences between descriptive praise and general praise. In fact, praise, regardless of the type, was not a robust procedure for acquisition. Additionally, preference evaluation results showed that only 4 out of 7 participants preferred praise, and of these, two participants preferred descriptive praise, and two participants preferred general praise. Thus, preferences were idiosyncratic with respect to preferences for praise across participants.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25816
    Collections
    • Applied Behavioral Science Dissertations and Theses [149]
    • Theses [3824]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps