Carnine, D. W. (1976).
Effects of two teacher-presentation rates on off-task behavior, answering correctly, and participation.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
9, 199-206.
Off-task behavior, correct answering, and participation during
beginning reading instruction were recorded for two low-achieving
first-grade children during two different rates of teacher
presentation. A slow-rate presentation (A) was compared with a
fast-rate presentation (B) in an ABABAB design. In slow-rate
presentation, there was a delay between the children's response
and introduction of the next task. In fast-rate presentation,
there was no delay. A new teacher taught during the final AB
phases which allowed for a brief replication. Both teachers were
reminded on a fixed-interval 90-sec schedule throughout all
phases of the experiment to praise the subjects, thus preventing
a confounding of social praise and rate of teacher presentation.
Fast-rate presentation was accompanied by a lower per cent
occurrence of off-task behavior for both Subjects 1 and 2. For
Subject 1, correct answering and participation were more frequent
during all three fast-rate phases. For Subject 2, correct
answering and participation were more frequent during the
fast-rate phases after the first reversal.