Question

What is a recommended guideline for the reinforcers-to-reprimand ratio to be used with beginning athletes? A recommended guideline is that the reinforcer-to-reprimand ratio should favor the reinforcers by at least 4 to 1 with young athlete

Answer 1

The recommended reinforcer-to-reprimand ratio for beginning athletes is at least 4 to 1, favoring positive reinforcement. This approach involves reinforcing progressively closer approximations of the desired behavior until only the desired behavior is reinforced, based on B.F. Skinner's behavioral psychology principles.

Step-by-step explanation:

The recommended guideline for the reinforcer-to-reprimand ratio to be used with beginning athletes suggests that positive feedback should greatly outweigh negative feedback. This principle is rooted in behaviorist psychology and posits that for effective learning and motivation, reinforcers must predominate reprimands. The following steps outline a progression of reinforcement for coaching:

1. Reinforce any response that resembles the desired behavior.
2. Then reinforce the response that more closely resembles the desired behavior, while ceasing reinforcement for the earlier, less accurate behavior.
3. Gradually, only reinforce responses that increasingly approximate the desired behavior.
4. Continue this process, always reinforcing behaviors that come closer to the target.
5. Finally, reinforce only the desired behavior.

This process, known as shaping, helps in developing the desired skills in athletes by providing them with a clear pathway of progress and keeping them motivated. Applying a ratio of at least 4 positive reinforcers to 1 reprimand ensures that the focus is on positive reinforcement, which is generally more effective than punishment in changing behavior, according to principles established by psychologist B.F. Skinner.