Wager Mage
Photo by Diana Agapova Pexels Logo Photo: Diana Agapova

What does a 4 1 ratio mean?

According to Aubrey Daniels, “By definition, the 4:1 ratio is four positives to one negative. What many don't understand is that in order to shape the behavior you want, you must provide enough positive reinforcement for that behavior to become consistent.

How to save $10,000 in 3 months?
How to save $10,000 in 3 months?

Seven steps to save $10,000 in three months Evaluate your current financial situation. Get your debt under control. Set a realistic goal. Try...

Read More »
Do you go to jail if audited?
Do you go to jail if audited?

Can you go to jail for an IRS audit? The short answer is no, you won't go to jail.

Read More »

Do you use the 4:1 ratio when giving praise?

According to Aubrey Daniels, “By definition, the 4:1 ratio is four positives to one negative. What many don’t understand is that in order to shape the behavior you want, you must provide enough positive reinforcement for that behavior to become consistent. This is a great tool to use in business, sports, and even at home.” Check out what Aubrey Daniels has to say about the power of using the 4:1 ratio when delivering praise. This concept centers around the idea that you should deliver praise four times more frequently than a correction. Easy, right? Wrong! On an average day, a child receives at least one hundred behavior-based instructions. Statements such as: put that away, come over here, make sure you finish ___. Adults tend to notice “incorrect behavior more often than the desired behavior, thus providing more corrections than praise. There are 1,440 minutes in a day, which means that if your child engages in challenging behavior for 30 minutes every day, there is still plenty of time (1,410 minutes to be exact) left to provide positive reinforcement for desirable behavior. Challenging behaviors don’t disappear overnight. Behavior change takes time, and the 4:1 ratio of praise is one of the many tools that can contribute to that long-term change.

Inflate Positive Reinforcement Using the 4:1 Ratio

The power of using a 4:1 ratio when delivering praise vs. making random praise and corrective statements. Imagine PRAISE as a giant, brightly colored balloon and anytime a correction is given it results in one of those balloons popping. The bigger the collection of balloons, the lesser the impact if one bursts. The 4:1 ratio of praise vs. corrective statements ensures that a higher rate of positive reinforcement is provided. When these statements are randomly delivered, it could result in a higher rate of criticism and less positive reinforcement.

But how do I increase my delivery of positive praise?

Is there a trick to winning slots?
Is there a trick to winning slots?

There are no simple hacks, slots tips or tricks to winning on slot machines. If you want better odds to win on slots, you need to: Choose the slots...

Read More »
Is dual income good?
Is dual income good?

Investing both your income and your partner's income can allow your household to build sizable wealth much faster, especially if you start as early...

Read More »

There are four easy ways to monitor your own behavior as it relates to using the 4:1 ratio. Four tips for increasing positive praise include: making a plan, using a timer, self-monitoring behavior, and pairing it with a tangible. Make a Plan: Establish a positive alternative behavior. If your child spends much of their day yelling at others, you want to listen for (and reinforce) any time they are using an inside voice. Use a Timer: It is much harder to remember to give praise for the length of an entire day; instead, start small. Pick an hour and focus on watching or listening for that positive alternative behavior during that time. Self-Monitor: Decide how you will track your behavior. Using two colors of rubber bands worn on your wrist is an easy method for monitoring praise vs. corrective statements. Anytime you make a statement to your child (or student), move the associated color to the other wrist. Pair with a Tangible: If your child or student uses another token or point-based reinforcement system, you can pair positive praise along with the delivery of the reinforcer. As always, remember to use behavior-specific praise to ensure that the receiver knows that you are speaking to them. Additionally, this guarantees that the positive statement relates directly back to the chosen behavior.

You can read more about behavior-specific praise here.

Challenge yourself to use the 4:1 rato for an hour tomorrow and see how positively reinforcing it can be for both you and your child. Check out the 30+ resources in my FREE Resource Library. Lost the password? Click here for access. Also, don’t forget to visit the BIAS Store, or check me out on TeachersPayTeachers.

Do horses get lonely without another horse?
Do horses get lonely without another horse?

A horse that is stressed due to a lack of companionship may show behaviours that include running around a lot (usually up and down the fence line...

Read More »
How many legs in a parlay is best?
How many legs in a parlay is best?

A wager must have at least two selections, or “legs,” to be considered a parlay, with most betting sites setting the max number at 10 or 12 legs...

Read More »
Should you play pocket deuces?
Should you play pocket deuces?

For most players, pocket deuces are good for only one thing – trying to flop a set. They either limp or get in cheap, hoping to spike a third deuce...

Read More »
What does a 9 1 bet mean?
What does a 9 1 bet mean?

9-1 Betting Odds means that out of 10 possible outcomes, the 9/1 odds are that there will be 9 of one kind of outcome and 1 of another kind of...

Read More »