Abstract
The effects of approval on the walking behavior of kindergarten children were investigated. The number of steps taken by each child during free play periods in the kindergarten were recorded using pedometers. In baseline sessions, in which no feedback about the number of steps was given to children, the mean walking rates for boys and girls were 27.00 and 22. 29 steps per minute respectively. In reinforcement sessions, the children whose walking rates on that day were higher than the reinforcement criteria were applauded by the experimenter, class teacher and peers. In these sessions, walking rates increased to 41.03 steps per minute for boys and 27.72 steps per minute for girls. In the return to baseline conditions, the walking rates of both boys and girls decreased drastically, but they recovered when reinforcement procedures were introduced again.
