EFFECT OF REINFORCEMENT TECHNIQUE ON SHYNESS BEHAVIOUR AMONG JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN POTISKUM, YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated the Effect of Reinforcement Technique on Shyness Behavior among Secondary School Students in Potiskum Yobe State, Nigeria. The study raised four objectives which include to determine individuals with shy behaviour among junior secondary school students in Potiskum, Yobe State; determine the effect of reinforcement technique on shy behaviour among the students; determine the effect of reinforcement technique on shy behaviour of the male and female students, determine the effect of reinforcement technique on shy behaviour of different age level of the students, A Quasi-experimental design ofpre-test, post-test control group was employed for the study. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the samples for this study. The total sample of the study made up of 40 students with higher level of shy behaviour identified by their pre-test scores on the shyness personality scale (SPS). The sampled shy students were assigned to one experimental and one control group. The experimental group was treated with reinforcement technique while the control group was only given normal classroom instructions not relevant to variables under investigation. Shy behaviour observational checklist was adapted and used in the study by teachers in selecting the shy students. All the two groups were pre-tested and post-tested using shyness personality scale (SPS) designed by Akinade (2012). The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The finding revealed that reinforcement technique has significant effects in reducing the shv behaviour among the respondents (t=-3.127, P=.006), effect of reinforcement technique has no difference on reducing shy behaviour male and female among the respondents, (t=. 774, P=.449). The finding also revealed that there was no significant effect of reinforcement technique between different age groups of shy behaviour students (t=-3.15, P=.757) (t=2.lO, p=,000). Based on the findings, reinforcement technique is effective treatment therapy in reducing shyness behaviour among junior secondary school students in Potiskum Metropolis, it was recommended among others that Counsellors, Psychologists and Teachers should be exposed to training on reinforcement and counselling techniques in addressing shy behaviour among secondary school students.