Document Type

Honors Project

First Advisor

Dr. Randy Young

Degree Award Date

Spring 2005

Keywords

Achievement Orientation, High Maintenance Behavior, Academic Context, attention getting behavior, crossword puzzles

Disciplines

Applied Behavior Analysis | Experimental Analysis of Behavior | Psychology

Abstract

Using high and low achievement orientation students, we examined achievement orientation and attention getting behavior with the goal of defining "high maintenance" academic behavior. Specifically, we measured attention getting behavior by recording the number of questions asked by participants while they attempted to complete either a difficult or easy crossword puzzle. As predicted, attention getting behavior interacted with achievement orientation and puzzle difficulty. We also found a trend supporting the prediction that high achievers would enjoy the challenge of the difficult puzzle more than low achievers who inversely enjoyed the easy puzzle more. Additional studies of a related nature are recommended to further the understanding of the concept of high maintenance academic behavior.

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