Peer-mediated reinforcement plus prompting as treatment for off-task behavior in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Three elementary students with ADHD sat in a mock classroom. Peers gave points and praise when the target child stayed on task. An adult quietly reminded the peer to deliver the reinforcer.

The researchers used a single-case design. They measured off-task behavior across baseline and treatment sessions.

Off-task behavior dropped for every student once peers delivered reinforcement plus prompts. The classroom stayed calm and the peer helpers learned the routine quickly.

Bromley et al. (1998) tried class-wide peer tutoring and also saw less off-task behavior. Their study came first, so the new peer-plus-prompt package builds on that idea.

Pilowsky et al. (1998) warns that thin partial reinforcement can frustrate kids with ADHD and lower persistence. The current study avoided that trap by giving rich, immediate peer praise each time the child worked.

Voss et al. (2019) later showed ADHD learners handle stretched ratios as well as typical peers. Together the papers say: start with frequent peer praise, then thin the schedule only after behavior is solid.

You can turn classmates into mini-teachers. Pick two helpful students, train them to watch and praise on-task behavior, and add a quiet adult prompt at first. Drop the prompt once the peer delivers reliably. This cheap, social package cuts disruptive, attention-seeking behavior without extra tokens or response cost. Try it during small-group seat-work tomorrow.