The Effects of Reinforcing Intermediate Elementary Students to Constructively Use Free Time for Vocational Exploration

Abstract

Fifth and sixth grade Ss were assigned to one of three groups: (1) utilizing reinforcement practices (2) utilizing traditional instruction or (3) a non-treatment control group, Two dependent measures, amount of time spent in occupational exploration and the number of occupational materials viewed, were used to evaluate treatment effects. Reinforcement practices and traditional instruction were not found to significantly differ in terms of each dependent measure. The traditional instruction method significantly differed from the control group on both dependent measures; reinforcement practices significantly differed only in number of occupational materials viewed. Number of materials viewed was emphasized as the best description of Ss' behavior. Thus, both reinforcement practices and traditional instruction were found to be effective methods in stimulating Ss to pursue occupational information during free time.