Date of Award

7-1988

Document Type

Independent Study

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

First Advisor

Mary Lindquist

Abstract

This paper will present an overview of factors related to motivation and motivation as it relates to the learning disabled student. A study is presented that attempts to shed further light on which types of positive reinforcement can best motivate adolescent learning disabled students. The study involved a comparison of motivational interventions used with learning disabled, educable mentally retarded and regular class students. Both learning disabled students and educable mentally retarded students showed improved performance with the use of positive motivational interventions over non-intervention. The motivational variables were verbal praise, concrete rewards, explanation of why the learning is important and non-intervention of motivational manipulators. Although the sample was small, the study suggests positive motivational manipulators are an effective special education tool particularly with the learning disabled student.

Share

COinS