Enhancing Self-Monitoring with Differential Negative Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior for Increasing Students’ Writing Production

Abstract

Many students find writing aversive and behave in ways to escape the task. Self-monitoring and differential negative reinforcement of alternative behavior (DNRA) are two approaches that have been shown to improve the quantity of writing performance but have never been combined to determine whether they are more effective in combination than in isolation. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the differential effectiveness of self-monitoring versus self-monitoring plus DNRA for increasing the number of words and sentences written using a multiple probe design across three participants during two 10-minute sessions. For each baseline session, participants were given a story starter prompt to write as much as they could, received a short break, and then the second 10-minute session would begin. Self-monitoring indicated an increase in a number of words written and an unstable but slightly higher trend in a number of sentences written for one participant. The other two participants showed decreasing trends in both the number of words and sentences written during self-monitoring. Results of self-monitoring plus DNRA indicated an increase in a number of words and sentences written for one participant, while the other two participants showed little to no improvement. Areas for future research, limitations, and implications for practice are discussed.