The Effect of Partial Reinforcement in Programmed Instruction

• Three degrees of reinforcement in a 140‐frame program were provided by modifying the number of confirming answers. The effect was tested on 317 14‐year‐old children and measured with a criterion test immediately after the completion of the program and with the same criterion test delayed one month. Results indicated: (1) no statistically significant difference in immediate or delayed criterion test scores among students subjected to various reinforcement conditions, (2) a negative linear relationship between the time spent on the program and the percentage of confirmation provided, and (3) no evidence of dififerential effect among the various conditions on the subjects’ ratings of the degree of difficulty of the program.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Utbildningsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Educational Sciences (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)