Program Description

The Good Behavior Game is a universal classroom-based behavior management strategy intended for use with elementary school students, though has been used with secondary students. Teachers can use the GBG along with a school's standard instructional curricula. GBG uses a classroom-wide game format with teams and rewards to socialize children to the expectations of their classroom. It aims to reduce aggressive and disruptive classroom behavior. The GBG has existed for many years and can be implemented without purchasing materials. However, commercial versions are available.

Cost

Free manuals and implementation materials can be found online.

Intended Population

• Core

Grade

• Pre-K
• Elementary School
• Middle School
• High School

Intended Group Size

• Classroom

ELL/DLL

• Unspecified

Multisensory Applications

• No

Computer-Based Delivery

• None

Scripted

• Instructor Scripted

Comprehensive or Skill Specific

• Comprehensive

Placement Tests

• No

Accelerated Learning

• No

Assessment to Monitor Skills Mastery

• No

Error Correction Built In

• Unspecified

Fidelity Measures Provided by Publisher

• Unspecified

Research Summary

Two peer-reviewed meta-analyses examining single-case research studies and randomized-controlled trials using the Good Behavior Game identified moderate to strong evidence for it's effectiveness. The singe-case meta-analysis found substantial reductions in problem behavior and increased prosocial behavior across 21 studies with students PreK-12. The meta-analysis examining 7 randomized-controlled trials of the GBG reported more modest effect sizes of the intervention, and found that treatment effects varied by outcome and sex. Specifically, the GBG was most effective for conduct problems and for girls relative to boys.

Study Citations

Bowman-Perrott, L., Burke, M. D., Zaini, S., Zhang, N., & Vannest, K. (2016). Promoting Positive Behavior Using the Good Behavior Game: A Meta-Analysis of Single-Case Research. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 18(3), 180–190. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098300715592355

Smith, S., Barajas, K., Ellis, B., Moore, C., McCauley, S., & Reichow, B. (2021). A Meta-Analytic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials of the Good Behavior Game. Behavior Modification, 45(4), 641–666. https://doi.org/10.1177/0145445519878670

What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Report

• Potentially positive effects
• Positive effects

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

• Evidence-based practice

Additional Reviews

• https://sprc.org/online-library/good-behavior-game-gbg
• https://k12engagement.unl.edu/strategy-briefs/Program%20Good%20Behavior%20Game%2012-18-15.pdf
• https://www.interventioncentral.org/behavioral-interventions/schoolwide-classroommgmt/good-behavior-game