Teachers and parents views regarding the effectiveness of the awards given to students

This research was carried out in order to try to understand whether the expected benefits can be obtained by giving awards by revealing the opinions about the effectiveness of the awards given to students by teachers and parents. The research is structured in qualitative research method and phenomenology pattern. The research was carried out with secondary school teachers working in the Central district of Yozgat in the second term of the 2019-2020 academic year and the parents of the students in the schools where these teachers work. A semi-structured interview form developed by the researcher in line with the relevant literature and expert opinions was used as a data collection tool in the study. The interview forms consist of four sections that aim to reveal the use of the award, the purpose of use of the award, and the positive and negative aspects of the award. Research data were collected by in-depth interview method. Content analysis technique was used in the analysis of the data. According to the results obtained from the research, it was seen that all of the participating teachers and parents used the reward method. Teachers use the reward method to support students' efforts to increase their academic achievement and to increase participation in lesson activities. On the other hand, parents have used it to increase their children's academic success and to increase positive behaviors within the family. Teachers stated that the reward method increases students' participation in classroom activities and increases motivation. Parents also stated that the reward method increases their children's positive behaviors. According to the opinions of the teachers from the research results, it was concluded that the award made students work for the reward, students constantly expected reward, became able to negotiate the reward, caused some problems in the classroom environment and decreased the motivation of some students. According to the opinions of the parents, it was concluded that the reward did not work well, it did not increase academic success, the award was not liked, the duration of its effect was very short, their children became working for the reward and negative behaviors were made for the reward. The rewards are directed by teachers and parents to increase motivation, make it appropriate, necessary and necessary for a short period of time. It has been concluded that the rewards do not have enough effect on the issues of not making permanent behavioral change, the effect is very short, it does not make sense for some students, the motivating feature decreases and the expected effect from the reward is not achieved. Keywords: Student, Teacher, Parent, Reward, Reinforce, Reinforcement, Motivation.