NCJ Number
61922
Date Published
Unknown
Length
40 pages
Annotation
IN BOOKLET EIGHT OF THIS 17-PART SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL SERIES, INTENDED PRIMARILY FOR USE BY CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS, CONTRACTING FOR BEHAVIOR IS DISCUSSED AS USED BY COUNSELORS IN HOMES FOR JUVENILES.
Abstract
CONTRACTING FOR BEHAVIOR IS DISCUSSED IN ILLUSTRATED NARRATIVE FORM; MULTIPLE CHOICE, FILL-IN, AND SITUATIONAL QUESTIONS ARE INCLUDED THROUGHOUT WITH ANSWERS PROVIDED ON PAGES FOLLOWING QUESTIONS FOR IMMEDIATE FEEDBACK ON COMPREHENSION. USERS SHOULD START AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOKLET, WORK STRAIGHT THROUGH, WRITE ANSWERS AS DIRECTED, AND CHECK COMPLETED WORK. CONTRACTS FOR BEHAVIOR ARE OFTEN CALLED CONTINGENCY CONTRACTS BECAUSE THEY STATE THAT A REINFORCER WILL BE GIVEN CONTINGENT ON THE BEHAVIOR BEING PERFORMED. TERMS OF THE CONTRACT MUST BENEFIT BOTH PEOPLE WHO SIGN AND MUST BE AGREED UPON MUTUALLY. TO CONTRACT FOR BEHAVIOR, EXACT BEHAVIOR DESIRED MUST BE SPECIFIED, I.E., BED MUST BE MADE EACH MORNING. POSSIBLE REINFORCERS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE IN MOST CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND JUVENILE HOMES INCLUDE TELEVISION, TELEPHONE, AND VISITING PRIVILEGES. INITIAL CONTRACTS WITH YOUTH SHOULD ALWAYS PROVIDE FOR RICH, FREQUENT REINFORCERS TO BE DELIVERED IMMEDIATELY AFTER SMALL APPROXIMATIONS OF DESIRED BEHAVIOR. BONUSES FOR HIGH LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE SHOULD ALWAYS BE INCLUDED IN CONTRACTS. CONTRACTS MAY INCLUDE PENALTIES BUT MUST BE AGREED UPON BY BOTH PARTIES; THEY SHOULD BE LIMITED TO CRITICAL BEHAVIORS AND AVOIDED WHENEVER POSSIBLE. CONTRACT TERMS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED PRECISELY AND REVIEWED DAILY; NEW CONTRACTS SHOULD BE NEGOTIATED WEEKLY. SKETCHES ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT. (LWM