Operant Conditioning as a Means for Improvement of the Accuracy of Vocal Production of Single Tones

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the efficacy of operant conditioning when applied on an individual basis to improve accuracy of rendition of single tones, by subjects who tend to sing off tune. Ten boys and girls, aged 8 to 10 yr., designated as off-tune signers by their school's music teacher, were assigned at random to an experimental and a control group. The subjects were trained to improve rendition of five tones in a melodic line. The experimental subjects were reinforced by coins as well by verbal praise for each accurate performance or improvement. Control subjects, on the other hand, were given rewards at fixed intervals in the course of training without any connection to the quality of their performance. Each subject had three sessions, and each sound was used 45 times. Experimental subjects showed significantly greater improvement than control subjects, as indicated by analysis of covariance performed on the musical performance data. The findings were interpreted in terms of the operant conditi...