Effects of collateral peer supportive behaviors within the classwide peer tutoring program

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Applied Behavior Analysis

Background:

• Peer tutoring is an effective instructional strategy.
• Understanding spontaneous peer behaviors is crucial for optimizing interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of classwide peer tutoring on spelling performance.
• To explore the function of naturally occurring peer tutoring behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A multielement single-subject experimental design with replications was used.
• The study involved an urban elementary school classroom setting.
• Core tutoring behaviors were supplemented with untrained collateral behaviors.

Main Results:

• Additional peer tutoring behaviors increased tutees' academic response frequencies.
• Spontaneous peer behaviors led to improved weekly spelling achievement for a target tutee.
• The majority of the class adopted and maintained these behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Classwide peer tutoring, including spontaneous behaviors, can enhance academic outcomes.
• Natural peer reinforcement communities can support intervention effectiveness.
• The social validation of peer tutoring procedures is supported by these findings.