Explain what psychologists mean when they talk about attributions. Then: a. Explain how students' responses to failure are likely to be different when they attribute that failure to a controllable cause or to an uncontrollable one. Give a concrete example to illustrate your explanation. b. Describe three specific strategies you might use to foster more productive attributions in your students. In
each case, explain why you think the strategy will be effective.
What will be an ideal response?
An attribution is a student's explanation regarding why a specific event (perhaps a success or failure) has occurred.
a. Students are more likely to respond appropriately to failure–for example, to try harder or use a different strategy–if they believe they have control over the factors contributing to their failure. They are unlikely to change their behavior if they think the source of the failure is beyond their control. The response should include a concrete example illustrating the difference.
b. Possible strategies for promoting productive attributions include these (the response should describe three strategies, which may include those listed below and/or other strategies justifiable from the perspective of attribution theory):
• Provide sufficient instruction and support that students can experience success if they exert reasonable effort.
• Make response—reinforcement contingencies clear.
• Communicate high yet realistic expectations for student performance.
• Attribute students' successes to both high ability and such controllable internal factors as effort or learning strategies.
• Attribute students' successes to effort only when they have exerted a great deal of effort.
• Attribute students' failures to factors they can control.
• Attribute students' failures to a lack of effort only when they clearly haven't tried very hard.
• Help students acquire more effective learning strategies.
• Define success as eventual rather than immediate mastery.
• Evaluate students in terms of the improvement they're making.
• Minimize competition among students.
The response should provide a reasonable justification of each strategy it describes.
You might also like to view...
Families involved in their child's early childhood program:
a. Are more likely to use corporal punishment b. Are more likely to run for a seat on the local school board c. Are more likely to be involved in their children's elementary and secondary schools d. Are less likely to keep their child home from school when they are mildly ill
A meal that consists of a corn tortilla, scrambled eggs, yellow squash, and cantaloupe is lacking in ________ appeal.
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
Part of the purpose of single subject design is to demonstrate experimental control and intervention effects
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Answer the following statement(s) true (T) or false (F)
Placing activity-based centers in a more distracting part of the room can minimize problems.