Effects of Contingent and Noncontingent Social Reinforcement on Performance of Children in a Ball-Striking Skill

Abstract

The study investigated selected effects of contingent and noncontingent verbal praise used as reinforcement. Subjects were 12 preschool children, 8 experimental and 4 control. Independent variables manipulated were verbal praise given for hitting the target and verbal praise given without regard for accomplishment. The task required striking an aerial ball toward a target. The number of target hits, trial-to-trial similarity of form movement responses of individual subjects, and the distance from which the target was hit were obtained from practice and test periods, each of 30 trials. Practice included a total of 140 trials distributed over 4 wk. and 2 days. Practice accompanied by contingent praise yielded significantly more target hits than practice accompanied by noncontingent praise. Subjects who practiced the skill increased the number of hits, but not their consistency of form. Subjects scoring below the median target hits increased their consistency in form during early practice periods, while subjects scoring above the median showed no change.