Study: Students Behave Better When Praised

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A new study found that students show better behavior in school when teachers praise them. The researchers defined praise as a verbal expression of approving good behavior. On the other hand, reprimand is defined as a verbal expression of disapproving inappropriate behavior. Previous studies have shown that giving praise is the best way to reinforce good student behavior and that keeping reprimands to a minimum works best when addressing disruptive behavior. Some educators suggest a specific praise-t0-reprimand ratio, such as 4:1, in which students will receive four praises for every one reprimand. However, little research has been done on this ratio to verify its effectiveness. To test the ratio’s effectiveness, the researchers observed over 150 classrooms in three US states for three years. In half of the classes, teachers followed a program that taught students the expected good behavior and praised students for showing it. In the remaining classes, the teachers employed their usual classroom management strategies. Results showed that students in classes where the praise-to-reprimand ratio was highest showed 20% to 30% increase in focus on tasks. The study also found that even if the ratio between praise and reprimand was equal, good behavior still reached up to 60%. The researchers did not find a specific ratio that works best, however, but they concluded that giving more praise would yield better results. The researchers highlighted praise as a form of teacher feedback. Praising good behavior helps students understand what kind of behavior is expected of them. However, a UK association for school leaders cautioned that giving praise may become ineffective if overused. Instead, the association advised teachers to use the strategy of giving praise sensibly.