This article discusses the use of behavior-specific praise (BSP), an effective technique for promoting prosocial behavior and managing classrooms. It addresses the criticism that BSP may reduce students’ intrinsic motivation and offers directions on how to use BSP to provide students, especially those with challenging behaviors, with useful feedback that encourages them to engage productively in school activities.
BayatM. (2011). Clarifying issues regarding the use of praise with young children. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 31(2), 121–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271121410389339
2.
ConroyM. A.SutherlandK. S.SnyderA.Al-HendawiM.VoA. (2009). Creating a positive classroom atmosphere: Teachers’ use of effective praise and feedback. Beyond Behavior, 18(2), 18–26. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24011740
3.
DevP. C. (1997). Intrinsic motivation and academic achievement: What does their relationship imply for the classroom teacher?Remedial and Special Education, 18(1), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.1177/074193259701800104
4.
DownsK. R.CaldarellaP.LarsenR. A. A.CharltonC. T.WillsH. P.KampsD. M.WehbyJ. H. (2019). Teacher praise and reprimands: The differential response of students at risk of emotional and behavioral disorders. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 21(3), 135–147. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300718800824
5.
DrakeK. R.NelsonG. (2021). To the reference list. Natural rates of teacher praise in the classroom: A systematic review of observational studies. Psychology in the Schools, 58(12), 2404–2424. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22602
6.
DufreneB. A.LestremauL.ZoderM. K. (2014). Direct behavioral consultation: Effects on teachers’ praise and student disruptive behavior. Psychology in the Schools, 51(6), 567–580. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.21768
7.
DweckC. S. (2016). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Ballantine Books.
8.
EnnisR. P.RoyerD. J.LaneK. L.DunlapK. D. (2020). Behavior-specific praise in pre-K–12 settings: Mapping the 50-year knowledge base. Behavioral Disorders, 45(3), 131–147. https://doi.org/10.1177/0198742919843075
9.
EnnisR. P.RoyerD. J.LaneK. L.MenziesH. M.OakesW. P.SchellmanL. E. (2018). Behavior-specific praise: An effective, efficient, low-intensity strategy to support student success. Beyond Behavior, 27(3), 134–139. https://doi.org/10.1177/1074295618798587
10.
EpsteinM.AtkinsM.CullinanD.KutashK.WeaverR. (2008). Reducing behavior problems in the elementary school classroom: A practice guide (NCEE #2008-012). National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/Docs/PracticeGuide/behavior_pg_092308.pdf
11.
FloressM. T.JenkinsL. N.ReinkeW. M.McKownL. (2018). General education teachers’ natural rates of praise: A preliminary investigation. Behavioral Disorders, 43(3), 411–422. https://doi.org/10.1177/0198742917709472
12.
GerlingerJ.VianoS.GardellaJ. H.FisherB. W.CurranF. C.HigginsE. M. (2021). Exclusionary school discipline and delinquent outcomes: A meta-analysis. Journal of Youth Adolescence, 50(8), 1493–1509. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-021-01459-3
13.
HamreB. K.PiantaR. C. (2001). Early teacher–child relationships and the trajectory of children’s school outcomes through eighth grade. Child Development, 72(2), 625–638. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00301
14.
HenderlongJ.LepperM. R. (2002). The effects of praise on children’s intrinsic motivation: A review and synthesis. Psychological Bulletin, 128(5), 774–795. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.128.5.774
15.
HornerR. H.SugaiG. (2015). School-wide PBIS: An example of applied behavior analysis implemented at a scale of social importance. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 8(1), 80–85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-015-0045-4
16.
HosanN. E.HoglundW. (2017). Do teacher-child relationship and friendship quality matter for children’s school engagement and academic skills?School Psychology Review, 46(2), 201–218. https://doi.org/10.17105/SPR-2017-0043.V46-2
17.
KennedyM. M. (2016). How does professional development improve teaching?Review of Educational Research, 86(4), 945–980. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654315626800
18.
LaneK. L.MenziesH. M.EnnisR.OakesW. P. (2015). Supporting behavior for school success: A step-by-step guide to key strategies. The Guilford Press.
19.
LaneK. L.MenziesH. M.OakesW. P.KalbergJ. R. (2020). Developing a schoolwide framework to prevent and manage learning and behavior problems (2nd ed.). The Guilford Press.
20.
LillardA. S. (2018). Rethinking education: Montessori’s approach. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(6), 395–400. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721418769878
Maldonado-CarreñoC.Votruba-DrzalE. (2011). Teacher-child relationships and the development of academic and behavioral skills during elementary school: A within- and between-child analysis. Child Development, 82(2), 601–616. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01533.x
23.
MenziesH. M.LaneK. L.OakesW. P.EnnisP. R. (2016). Increasing students’ opportunities to respond: A strategy for supporting engagement. Intervention in School and Clinic, 52(4), 204–209. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053451216659467
24.
MitchellM. M.BradshawC. P. (2013). Examining classroom influences on student perceptions of school climate: The role of classroom management and exclusionary discipline strategies. Journal of School Psychology, 51(5), 599–610. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2013.05.005
25.
MontessoriM. (1995). The absorbent mind. Holt Paperbacks.
26.
MuellerC. M.DweckC. S. (1998). Praise for intelligence can undermine children’s motivation and performance. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(1), 33–52. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.75.1.33
27.
Musti-RaoS.HaydonT. (2011). Strategies to increase behavior-specific teacher praise in an inclusive environment. Intervention in School and Clinic, 47(2), 91–97. https://doi.org/10.1177/1053451211414187
28.
OgundeleM. O. (2018). Behavioural and emotional disorders in childhood: A brief overview for paediatricians. World Journal of Clinical Pediatrics, 7(1), 9–26. https://doi.org/10.5409/wjcp.v7.i1.9
29.
PhamY. K.MurrayC.GauJ. (2022). The inventory of teacher-student relationships: Factor structure and associations with school engagement among high-risk youth. Psychology in the Schools, 59(2), 413–429. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.22617
30.
PierceW. D.CheneyC. D. (2017). Behavior analysis and learning (6th ed.). Routledge.
31.
ReeveJ.JangH. (2006). What teachers say and do to support students’ autonomy during a learning activity. Journal of Educational Psychology, 98(1), 209–218. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.98.1.209
32.
RoyerD. J.LaneK. L. L.DunlapK. D.EnnisR. P. (2018). A systematic review of teacher-delivered behavior-specific praise on K-12 student performance. Remedial and Special Education, 40(2), 112–128. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741932517751054
33.
RyanR. M.DeciE. L. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 54–67. https://doi.org/10.1006/ceps.1999.1020
34.
RyanR. M.DeciE. L. (2020). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation from a self-determination theory perspective: Definitions, theory, practices, and future directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 61, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2020.101860
35.
SabolT. J.PiantaR. C. (2012). Recent trends in research on teacher-child relationships. Attachment and Human Development, 14(3), 213–231. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2012.672262
36.
ShernoffE. S.LekwaA. L.ReddyL. A.DavisW. (2020). Teachers’ use and beliefs about praise: A mixed-methods study. School Psychology Review, 49(3), 256–274. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2020.1732146
37.
SpillaneJ. P.ReiserB. J.ReimerT. (2002). Policy implementation and cognition: Reframing and refocusing implementation research. Review of Educational Research, 72(3), 387–431. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543072003387
38.
SproulsK.MathurS. R.UpretiG. (2015). Is positive feedback a forgotten classroom practice? Findings and implications for at-risk students. Preventing School Failure, 59(3), 153–160. https://doi.org/10.1080/1045988X.2013.876958
39.
StormontM.ReinkeW. (2009). The importance of precorrective statements and behavior-specific praise and strategies to increase their use. Beyond Behavior, 18(3), 26–32. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24011748
40.
StormontM.SmithS. C.LewisT. J. (2007). Teacher implementation of precorrection and praise statements in Head Start classrooms as a component of a program-wide system of positive behavioral support. Journal of Behavioral Education, 16, 280–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-007-9040-3
41.
SugaiG.HornerR. (2006). A promising approach for expanding and sustaining the implementation of schoolwide positive behavior support. School Psychology Review, 35(2), 245–259. https://doi.org/10.1080/02796015.2006.12087989
42.
SutherlandK. S.SinghN. N. (2004). Learned helplessness and students with emotional or behavioral disorders: Deprivation in the classroom. Behavioral Disorders, 29(2), 169–181. https://doi.org/10.1177/019874290402900208
43.
SutherlandK. S.WehbyJ. H.CopelandS. R. (2000). Effect of varying rates of behavior-specific praise on the on task behavior of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Journal of Emotional and Behavior Disorders, 8(1), 2–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/106342660000800101
44.
TrumpC. E.PenningtonR. C.TraversJ. C.RingdahlJ. E.WhitesideE. E.AyresK. M. (2018). Applied behavior analysis in special education: Misconceptions and guidelines for use. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 50(6), 381–393. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040059918775020
45.
ZentallS. R.MorrisB. J. (2010). “Good job, you’re so smart”: The effects of inconsistency of praise type on young children’s motivation. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 107(2), 155–163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jecp.2010.04.015
46.
ZisimopoulosD. A.GalanakiE. P. (2009). Academic intrinsic motivation and perceived academic competence in Greek elementary students with and without learning disabilities. Learning Disabilities Research & Practice, 24(1), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5826.2008.01275.x