The Effects of the Good Behavior Game with General-Education High School Students
Mitchell, Rachel R.; Tingstrom, Daniel H.; Dufrene, Brad A.; Ford, W. Blake; Sterling, Heather E. (2015). School Psychology Review, v44 n2 p191-207. Retrieved from: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1141382
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examining44Students, grades9-12
Single Study Review
Review Details
Reviewed: March 2023
- Single Study Review (findings for Good Behavior Game)
- Single Case Design
- Meets WWC standards with reservations because it is a SCD design where the independent variable is manipulated by the researcher, each outcome is measured systematically over time by multiple assessors with a sufficient number of assessment points and inter-assessor agreement, but there are an insufficient number of phases and/or assessments per phase to meet without reservations.
This review may not reflect the full body of research evidence for this intervention.
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Findings
To view more detailed information about the study findings from this review, please download findings data here.
Evidence Tier rating based solely on this study. This intervention may achieve a higher tier when combined with the full body of evidence.
Sample Characteristics
Characteristics of study sample as reported by study author.
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Female: 48%
Male: 52% -
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Race Black 91% Other or unknown 2% Two or more races 5% White 2% -
Ethnicity Hispanic 2% Not Hispanic or Latino 98% -
Eligible for Free and Reduced Price Lunch Free or reduced price lunch (FRPL) 89% No FRPL 11%
Study Details
Setting
The study took place in two general education classrooms in one high school in the southeastern United States.
Study sample
This review focuses on the reversal-withdrawal single case designs for two classrooms, "Classroom A" and "Classroom C." Participants included 44 students in grades 9–12. Most students in the sample were Black (91%), 7% were biracial or had no race provided, and 2% were White. Two percent were Hispanic or Latino. About 52% of students were male, and across the entire school, 89% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
Intervention Group
The Good Behavior Game is a classroom management strategy that promotes students collaborating together to create a positive learning environment. Students are placed into teams and are rewarded for demonstrating appropriate behaviors and not violating classroom rules. In this study, the teachers introduced Good Behavior Game as a team competition and used a script to outline expectations and the rules of the game. During each session, teachers added a checkmark to the team’s name on a board at the front of the class each time a student engaged in disruptive behavior, such as leaving their seat without permission or being off task. To win the competition, teams had to have fewer checkmarks than the criterion set before the game. Winning teams received extra credit points, homework passes, free time, food, or school supplies. The 20-minute sessions took place during algebra and Spanish classes two to three times a week for an unspecified number of weeks.
Comparison Group
There is no comparison group in single case designs. In the baseline and withdrawal phases of the single case design, the teachers instructed their classrooms in the typical manner.
Support for implementation
The researchers trained teachers during their planning periods by describing how to introduce the Good Behavior Game with a script, modeling the steps, and by providing teachers a chance to practice. Researchers also gave teachers feedback on their practice sessions.
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Study findings for this report.
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