Strategic Implementation of Reward and Punishment in Enhancing Discipline among Primary School Students
A Mixed-Method Analysis
Keywords:
Reward and Punishment, Student Discipline, Primary School Education, Behavior Management, Yogyakarta EducationAbstract
This study addresses the challenges faced by primary school students in developing discipline, particularly in relation to behavioral issues such as tardiness, non-compliance with class rules, and poor academic responsibility. The existing disciplinary methods have not proven fully effective in fostering self-regulation and consistent behavior among students.
To overcome this issue, the study explores the strategic implementation of reward and punishment as a method for enhancing discipline. It contributes to the field by providing empirical evidence on the effectiveness of this approach within a specific school setting, highlighting the role of contextual factors.
The research employs a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative techniques such as interviews, observations, and documentation with quantitative data from behavior rating sheets and simple questionnaires. The study involves teachers, students, and parents from Muhammadiyah Sapen Elementary School as key informants.
The results reveal that the application of reward and punishment led to a significant improvement in students' discipline, particularly in areas like rule adherence, punctuality, and active participation. Specifically, there was a ±23% increase in discipline scores over the observation period. However, the effectiveness of the method was influenced by both internal factors (e.g., motivation, academic ability) and external factors (e.g., family support).
In conclusion, the study confirms that a well-structured reward and punishment system, based on behaviorist theory, can effectively enhance students' discipline when supported by humanistic and ecological approaches.
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