Some Bad News for The Good Behavior Game

Some Bad News for The Good Behavior Game
By Ashley Grant, Johns Hopkins University
The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a school intervention that motivates students to have better behavior through winning rewards on a team for positive behaviors. Many prior studies have found significant positive impacts of GBG on student and school outcomes. However, a recent study from Ashworth and colleagues found no effects on behavior from this intervention.

Ashworth and colleagues specifically studied GBG in a 2-year randomized control trial among 3,084 6-7 year old children in 77 UK primary schools. This study found no positive effects on student disruptive behavior, concentration problems, nor pro-social behavior (as observed by teachers). Additionally, the study found no subgroup effects either on demographic factors (such as being male) or based on cumulative risk. The study also found no effect based on how much the program was implemented by teachers.

The authors hypothesize that this lack of an effect may be due to the British cultural context (lack of adaptation and little room for improvement). Alternatively the authors propose that prior studies of GBG have not looked at these particular behavioral outcomes, which are key to GBG theory.

Although less promising for GBG, this study helps add to the larger picture of how it works , and potentially the limits of its effective applications in schools.

Views: 50

▶ Reply to This

JOIN SL 2.0

SUBSCRIBE TO

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP 2.0

Feedspot named School Leadership 2.0 one of the "Top 25 Educational Leadership Blogs"

"School Leadership 2.0 is the premier virtual learning community for school leaders from around the globe."

---------------------------

 Our community is a subscription-based paid service ($19.95/year or only $1.99 per month for a trial membership)  that will provide school leaders with outstanding resources. Learn more about membership to this service by clicking one of our links below.

 

Click HERE to subscribe as an individual.

 

Click HERE to learn about group membership (i.e., association, leadership teams)

__________________

CREATE AN EMPLOYER PROFILE AND GET JOB ALERTS AT 

SCHOOLLEADERSHIPJOBS.COM

New Partnership

image0.jpeg

Mentors.net - a Professional Development Resource

Mentors.net was founded in 1995 as a professional development resource for school administrators leading new teacher induction programs. It soon evolved into a destination where both new and student teachers could reflect on their teaching experiences. Now, nearly thirty years later, Mentors.net has taken on a new direction—serving as a platform for beginning teachers, preservice educators, and

other professionals to share their insights and experiences from the early years of teaching, with a focus on integrating artificial intelligence. We invite you to contribute by sharing your experiences in the form of a journal article, story, reflection, or timely tips, especially on how you incorporate AI into your teaching

practice. Submissions may range from a 500-word personal reflection to a 2,000-word article with formal citations.

© 2026   Created by William Brennan and Michael Keany   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service