NCJ Number
49817
Journal
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis Volume: 9 Issue: 3 Dated: (FALL 1976) Pages: 253-275
Date Published
1976
Length
23 pages
Annotation
AN EXPERIMENT WAS CONDUCTED TO EXPLORE THE APPLICATION OF TOKEN REINFORCEMENT PROCEDURES, AND A SECOND EXPERIMENT WAS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE PROCEDURES DISRUPTED THE DAY-TO-DAY LIVES OF INMATES.
Abstract
FIFTY-SIX INMATES OF DRAPER CORRECTIONAL CENTER, ELMORE, ALABAMA, PARTICIPATED IN THE FIRST EXPERIMENT, DESIGNED TO EXPLORE THE FEASIBILITY OF EXTENDING APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS PROCEDURES TO THE DAILY ACTIVITIES OF ADULT MALE FELONS AND TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF SUCH PROCEDURES TO MANAGEMENT AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMING WITHIN THE MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION. TOKENS OR POINTS WERE ACQUIRED ON THE BASIS OF MAINTAINING TARGET BEHAVIORS AND EXPENDED THROUGH A SIMULATED CHECKBOOK BANKING SYSTEM. TARGET BEHAVIORS INCLUDED ARISING AT AN APPOINTED HOUR, MAKING THE BED, CLEANING THE LIVING AREA, AND MAINTAINING A WELL-GROOMED PERSONAL APPEARANCE. TOKENS COULD BE USED AS MONEY TO PURCHASE PRIVILEGES AND COMMODITIES. FINDINGS REVEALED THAT A COMBINATION OF PRAISE AND TOKEN REINFORCEMENT WAS MORE EFFECTIVE THAN A COMBINATION OF PRAISE AND NONCONTINGENT TOKEN AWARD OR DIRECT COMMANDS TO PERFORM THE TARGETED ACTIVITIES. THE RESULTS OF THIS FIRST EXPERIMENT DEMONSTRATED THAT HIGHER LEVELS OF SUSTAINED PERFORMANCE CAN BE MAINTAINED WHEN A CONTINGENT RELATIONSHIP EXISTS BETWEEN THE BEHAVIOR AND THE REINFORCER THAN UNDER ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. THESE DATA, HOWEVER, DO NOT REVEAL WHAT AFFECT THE TOKEN ECONOMY HAD ON OTHER ASPECTS OF INMATES' EXISTENCE. THE SECOND EXPERIMENT WAS DESIGNED TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE TOKEN ECONOMY IN EXPERIMENT 1 EXERTED UNDUE HARDSHIP ON INMATES IN TERMS OF DEPRIVATION OF SOCIAL INTERCOURSE AND/OR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. A CHECKLIST COMPOSED OF ACTIVITIES IN WHICH INMATES MIGHT ENGAGE ENABLED A TOPOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF THE DAILY ACTIVITIES OF EXPERIMENT 1 PARTICIPANTS. PARTICIPANTS WERE ASKED TO RECORD THEIR ACTIVITIES APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH BEFORE THE TOKEN ECONOMY WAS INTRODUCED, DURING THE PERIOD IT WAS IN EFFECT, AND FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AFTER ITS TERMINATION. EXPERIMENT 2 INDICATED THAT THE HIGH LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE OBSERVED DURING THE TOKEN ECONOMY COULD BE ATTAINED WITHOUT SUBJECTING THE PARTICIPANTS TO ANY UNDUE HARDSHIPS OR DEPRIVATIONS. THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, HOWEVER, MUST AVOID COERCING INMATES TO PARTICIPATE IN SUCH EXPERIMENTS. THE VOLUNTARY NATURE OF SUCH PROGRAMS MUST BE GUARANTEED BY ASSURING THOSE WHO REFUSE TO PARTICIPATE OR WISH TO TERMINATE THEIR PARTICIPATION THAT SUCH DECISIONS IS NO WAY INFLUENCE THE INMATES' RELEASE DATE FROM THE INSTITUTION. TABULAR AND GRAPHIC DATA ARE PROVIDED. THE CHECKLIST IS NOT REPRODUCED. (KJM)