ERIC Number: EJ1151406
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Sep
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1053-0819
EISSN: N/A
Increasing Class Participation in College Classrooms with the Good Behavior Game
Cheatham, Jessica M.; Ozga, Jenny E.; St. Peter, Claire C.; Mesches, Gabrielle A.; Owsiany, Jennifer M.
Journal of Behavioral Education, v26 n3 p277-292 Sep 2017
Participation in college classrooms remains low, despite evidence that increased participation contributes to better grades. Incorporating active student educational strategies may help combat poor participation. The Good Behavior Game is a tool for improving various behaviors of children and adolescents in schools. However, strategies similar to the Good Behavior Game have not yet been assessed with young adults in college classrooms. We used an alternating treatments design to evaluate effects of a modified version of the Good Behavior Game on participation across three introductory psychology courses at a public university. We collected baseline data on class participation and then compared two variations of the Good Behavior Game--one included delivering a preferred reward to individuals on the winning team and one did not include a reward. Incorporating components of the Good Behavior Game increased class participation with and without a preferred reward, relative to baseline. Students reported preferring the game with a reward relative to the game with no reward and not playing the game. Because class participation has been correlated with better course grades, incorporating features of the Good Behavior Game may be a feasible approach for improving college students' education.
Descriptors: Class Activities, Student Participation, Comparative Analysis, Student Behavior, Educational Games, Classroom Techniques, Educational Strategies, College Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIH//DHHS)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: NIGMST32GM081741