Positive Behavior Intervention Essay

The Positive Behavior Intervention System applies the use of operant conditioning, a term established by B.F. Skinner. Operant conditioning, “is the study of reversible behaviors maintained by reinforcement schedules” (Staddon & Cerutti, 2002). In his study, Skinner tested hungry rats with a reinforcer of food. During the study he found that the rats learned that if they pressed on the lever, they would receive food (positive reinforce) (Staddon & Cerutti, 2002). On the contrary, if they did not press on the lever, no food would be received. Essentially Skinner determined that behavior can be changed or modified through the use of a desired reinforce. In the case of students, they can learn that positive behavior leads to a positive …show more content…
Of the thirty-seven schools, twenty-one participated in the PBIS training while the other sixteen did not. The results showed that the schools who were trained using PBIS had a decrease in citations (off task behaviors) the following year (Bradshaw, Reinke, Brown, Bevans, & Leaf, 2008, p. 9). The data “suggests a consistent pattern whereby the trained schools increased sharply in rates of school-wide PBIS implementation within the first year, but leveled off slightly thereafter” (Bradshaw, Reinke, Brown, Bevans, & Leaf, 2008, p. 9). The study showed an increase in positive behavior with schools whole implemented PBIS. To implement in the school, it is an extensive process. The staff must be trained in implementing PBIS and define what they want their expected behaviors to be. Next the school must create procedures for achieving the expected behavior and how to take care of the negative behavior. The school then needs to get the parents and staff involved in bringing awareness to positive behavior. While the process might be long, it is a worthwhile process if the students are able to focus more on their positive behavior than