Strengthening Students’ Religious Discipline through School Environmental Conditioning: A Behaviorist Perspective

Fatimatus Zahro; Muhammad Rusydi

doi:10.67245/vidya.v1i2.49

Authors

Fatimatus Zahro Universitas Islam KH. Achmad Muzakki Syah, Jember
Muhammad Rusydi Universitas Islam KH. Achmad Muzakki Syah, Jember

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.67245/vidya.v1i2.49

Keywords:

Behaviorism, Environmental Conditioning, Islamic Religious Education, Positive Reinforcement, Religious Discipline

Abstract

Purpose – This study examines how school environmental conditioning strengthens students’ religious discipline through a behaviorist perspective, focusing on environmental stimuli, behavioral responses, positive reinforcement, and religious habituation.

Design/methods/approach – This qualitative descriptive case study was conducted at SD Negeri Suger Lor 3 Bondowoso, Indonesia. Data were collected through observations, semi-structured interviews with nine purposively selected informants, and document analysis. Data analysis followed Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña’s interactive model, supported by source and methodological triangulation.

Findings – Religious discipline was supported through structured school routines, including morning greetings, collective prayers, congregational Dhuhr prayers, and Qur’an memorization. These activities provided recurring environmental cues that encouraged religious behavior, reinforced through teacher guidance, praise, motivation, and social recognition. School leadership, teacher commitment, and parental involvement supported habituation, while inconsistent participation, peer influences, and differences between school and home environments presented challenges.

Research implications/limitations – The findings emphasize the importance of consistent school routines, teacher involvement, and positive reinforcement in supporting religious discipline. However, the single-school setting, nine informants, and short observation period limit transferability and prevent causal conclusions regarding long-term behavioral changes.

Originality/value – This study offers an integrated behavioral interpretation of school environmental conditioning by connecting antecedent conditions, student responses, reinforcement consequences, and repeated religious practices. It extends the contextual application of Skinner’s operant conditioning principles to Islamic Religious Education by conceptualizing religious habituation as an interconnected behavioral process rather than a collection of isolated educational strategies.

References

Afifah, A. N., Kholilah, L., Nengsih, W., and Yani, A. (2024). The use Of Context, Input, Process, Product (CIPP) Evaluation Model in the Duha Prayer Habituation Program at Integrated Islamic Elementary School (SD IT) Rocha Indonesia Bandung. TOFEDU: The Future of Education Journal, 3(5), 2144–2152. https://doi.org/10.61445/tofedu.v3i5.367

Agustin, N., Djuanda, D., and Iswara, P. D. (2025). Implementasi Teori Behaviorisme B.F Skinner Terhadap Penggunaan Bahasa Baku pada Keterampilan Menulis. Al-Madrasah: Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, 9(3), 1458–1470. https://doi.org/10.35931/am.v9i3.4859

Aidil, A., Rusdin, R., Ihsanniati, N. S., Rizqa, A. H., and Handayani, A. (2026). E-Learning-Based Instructional Design in Islamic Religious Education for Enhancing Religious Literacy. Adabuna: Jurnal Pendidikan Dan Pemikiran, 5(2), 129–143. https://doi.org/10.38073/adabuna.v5i2.4704

Amini, N. A., and Hidayat, M. T. (2023). Tinjauan Pustaka Sistematis: Penanaman Nilai Karakter Kedisiplinan Melalui Pembiasaan Sholat Berjamaah di Sekolah Dasar. Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran Sekolah Dasar, 7(1), 147–157. https://doi.org/10.24036/jippsd.v7i1.122438

Arinda, L. N., Amrullah, M., and Hikmah, K. (2023). STRENGTHENING STUDENTS’ RELIGIOUS CHARACTER THROUGH RELIGIOUS PRACTICES IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Jurnal PAJAR (Pendidikan Dan Pengajaran), 7(3), 617–629. https://doi.org/10.33578/pjr.v7i3.9429

Dian, Asih, D. B., Mulyani, E. K. S., Putri, S., Nusyeha, M. I. F., and Salsabila, N. (2025). Strategic Management of Character Education: A Holistic Model for Fostering Socio-Religious Attitudes in an Islamic Elementary School in Indonesia. EDUKASI: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Agama Dan Keagamaan, 23(3), 658–673. https://doi.org/10.32729/edukasi.v23i3.2264

Dian, Lestari, S., Farhan, S. A. N., Sandra, T., Mawardi, G., and Radhitya, K. (2026). The Mechanisms of Religious Value Internalization in the Formation of Students’ Prosocial Behaviour at Rabbani Elementary School, Bandung. EDUKASI: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Agama Dan Keagamaan, 24(1), 88–94. https://doi.org/10.32729/edukasi.v24i1.2420

Febriyanti, B. K., and Supriyadi. (2023). Fostering Religious Character in Elementary School Students: Insights from Religious Habituation Activities: Membentuk Karakter Keagamaan pada Siswa Sekolah Dasar: Wawasan dari Aktivitas Habitual Keagamaan. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Studies, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.21070/ijis.v11i3.1678

Hadian, M. Q. (2026). Qur’anic Value-Based Leadership in the Digital Transformation of Islamic Schools. Vidya: Journal of Educational Research, 1(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.67245/vidya.v1i1.28

Khoirunissa, K., and Jinan, M. (2025). Internalization of Religious Character Values Through the Habituation of Religious Activities at SMPIT Ar Risalah Sukoharjo. Journal of Educational Sciences, 9(3), 1127–1136. https://doi.org/10.31258/jes.9.3.p.1127-1136

Lativani, S., and Fadhil, M. (2026). FAMILY–MADRASAH PARTNERSHIP IN ISLAMIC MORAL EDUCATION: A CASE STUDY AT MTS AL-HUDA DENDANG. Edukasi Islami: Jurnal Pendidikan Islam, 15(03), 1381–1398. https://doi.org/10.30868/ei.v15i03.10388

Lestari, S., and Minsih. (2023). Teacher’s Efforts in Instilling Student Religious Character Education Through the Habitutation Method. Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dan Pembelajaran, 7(2), 295–304. https://doi.org/10.23887/jipp.v7i2.60353

Ma`arif, M. A., Muqorrobin, F. M., Kartiko, A., Sirojuddin, A., and Rofiq, A. (2024). Developing Islamic Character Values Through Student Habituation. Al-Hayat: Journal of Islamic Education, 8(1), 337–349. https://doi.org/10.35723/ajie.v8i1.501

Miles, M. B., Huberman, A. M., and Saldana, J. (2014). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications.

Mudhar, M., Faqih, M. N., and Rahmatullah, A. (2026). Reframing Educational Dualism in Indonesia: From Epistemological Integration to Institutional and Social Integration. Vidya: Journal of Educational Research, 1(2), 66–83. https://doi.org/10.67245/vidya.v1i2.40

Nadiyah, A., Istiqomah, N., Muharromah, N. F. A., and Faizin, M. (2026). STRATEGI PEMBIASAAN, KETELADANAN DAN PENGUATAN POSITIF DALAM PEMBELAJARAN PENDIDIKAN AGAMA ISLAM (PAI). Pendas : Jurnal Ilmiah Pendidikan Dasar, 11(02), 150–160. https://doi.org/10.23969/jp.v11i02.47399

Nasution, N. A. S., and Saâ€TMdiyah, E. H. (2024). Reward as a motivator for Quran memorization: A Skinnerian perspective. INSPIRA: Indonesian Journal of Psychological Research, 5(2), 195–204. https://doi.org/10.32505/inspira.v5i2.9745

Pansu, P., Freyssinet, I., and Le Hénaff, B. (2024). Using differential reinforcement for all to manage disruptive behaviors: Three class interventions at kindergarten and primary school. Frontiers in Education, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1411743

Rafly, F. R. E., and Sholichah, I. F. (2026). The Effectiveness of Positive Reinforcement in Fostering Positive Behavior among Elementary School Students. eL Bidayah: Journal of Islamic Elementary Education, 8(1), 382–393. https://doi.org/10.33367/jiee.v8i1.8821

Rahmawaty, M., and Supriyadi, S. (2025). Religious Character Formation Through Habituation of Worship Activities: Pembentukan Karakter Religi Melalui Pembiasaan Kegiatan Ibadah. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Studies, 13(1), 10.21070/ijis.v13i1.1797-10.21070/ijis.v13i1.1797. https://doi.org/10.21070/ijis.v13i1.1797

Ridwani, A. A., and Mukhibat. (2022). Implementasi Operant Conditioning sebagai Inovasi dalam Budaya Mutu Sekolah. Excelencia: Journal of Islamic Education and Management, 2(02), 153–164. https://doi.org/10.21154/excelencia.v2i02.1199

Rohmaniyah, R., and Rohmani, A. H. (2025). PEMBENTUKAN KARAKTER DISIPLIN SISWA MELALUI IMPLEMENTASI BEHAVIORISME DALAM PEMBELAJARAN PAI DI SEKOLAH DASAR. Edupedia : Jurnal Studi Pendidikan dan Pedagogi Islam, 10(1), 83–99. https://doi.org/10.35316/edupedia.v10i1.7629

Rosadi, A., Mahmud, M., Arifin, B. S., Nursobah, A., and Salahuddin, A. R. P. binti. (2025). How School Culture Shapes Religious Character: Unpacking the Hidden Mediating Power of Discipline in Indonesian Islamic Schools. EDUKASI: Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Agama Dan Keagamaan, 23(3), 562–577. https://doi.org/10.32729/edukasi.v23i3.2388

Rosyida, F., Muthmainah, and Hayati, N. (2025). The Impact of Token Economy on Positive Behavior Development in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review. Indonesian Journal of Educational Research and Review, 8(2), 509–523. https://doi.org/10.23887/ijerr.v8i2.86663

Skinner, B. F. (1965). Science And Human Behavior. Simon and Schuster.

Solihah, A. M., Sugara, U., and Fathoni, A. (2024). Teacher’s Role: Implementation of Religious Character Education through the Habituation Method in Elementary School. Jurnal Ilmiah Sekolah Dasar, 8(3), 402–412. https://doi.org/10.23887/jisd.v8i3.63426

Tantu, Y. R. P., and Marina, K. E. O. (2023). Teachers’ efforts to improve discipline of elementary school students using positive reinforcement methods in online learning. Jurnal Pendidikan Dasar Nusantara, 8(2), 288–298. https://doi.org/10.29407/jpdn.v8i2.19118

Tiwuk, Lestari, G. D., Yulianingsih, W., and Zakariyah, M. F. (2025). Habituation of Short Surah Memorization to Develop Discipline in Early Childhood: A Faith-Based Character Education Approach. Golden Age: Jurnal Ilmiah Tumbuh Kembang Anak Usia Dini, 10(1), 139–148. https://doi.org/10.14421/jga.2025.101-11

Wijayanti, S. N., and Kurniawan, M. I. (2025). Religious Character Formation Through Quran Memorization Program: Pembentukan Karakter Religius Melalui Program Hafalan Al-Quran. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Studies, 13(1), 10.21070/ijis.v13i1.1798-10.21070/ijis.v13i1.1798. https://doi.org/10.21070/ijis.v13i1.1798