NCJ Number
47768
Date Published
1976
Length
28 pages
Annotation
THE FIRST PHASE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF A YOUTH CENTER PROGRAM UTILIZING A TOKEN ECONOMY BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION STRATEGY ON A COMPLETELY VOLUNTARY BASIS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM WAS TARGETED FOR MALE AND FEMALE JUVENILES WITH SCHOOL AND/OR COMMUNITY ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS. THE PROGRAM WAS CARRIED OUT AT A BURLINGTON, VERMONT, JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, AND IS UNIQUE IN THAT IT AIMED AT LARGE-SCALE PEER GROUP INTERVENTION TOTALLY ABSENT OF ANY COERCION. THE GOAL OF THE TOKEN ECONOMY SYSTEM WAS TO INVOLVE THESE YOUTH IN NONPREFERRED ACTIVITY BY REINFORCING TIME SPENT IN SUCH ACTIVITIES AND IN SUPERVISION (I.E., KEEPING TRACK OF POINTS EARNED AND SPENT) WITH POINTS WHICH COULD THEN BE SPENT IN THE COFFEEHOUSE, STORE, OR GYM. PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WERE RECRUITED BY HAVING 5 YOUTHS, WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY PARTICIPATED IN A CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, ISSUE INVITATIONS TO 10 TO 12 OF THEIR FRIENDS AND THEN PERMITTING INVITED FRIENDS TO ISSUE FURTHER INVITATIONS. STAFF CONSISTED LARGELY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION COURSE. BANKBOOKS WERE USED TO RECORD POINTS EARNED AND SPENT. EACH PARTICIPANT GAINED 10 POINTS FOR REQUESTING THE BANKBOOK AND COULD EARN ADDITIONAL POINTS BY INVOLVEMENT IN ARTS AND CRAFTS, GYM, OR LIBRARY ACTIVITIES. THE PROGRAM MET FOR 3.5 HOURS, 2 EVENINGS PER WEEK FOR A PERIOD OF 12 WEEKS. REINFORCEMENT DESIGN INVOLVED THE USE OF BOTH TIME-CONTINGENT (I.E. TIME SPENT IN THE ACTIVITY AREA) AND PERFORMANCE-CONTINGENT (TASK COMPLETION) REINFORCEMENT. EVENINGS WERE ALSO SET ASIDE IN WHICH NO REINFORCERS WERE USED TO EVALUATE THE NATURAL REINFORCING VALUE OF THE ACTIVITIES THEMSELVES. A COMPARISON OF PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH A RANDOM SAMPLING OF PUPILS AT THE SCHOOL INDICATED THAT THE PROGRAM WAS REACHING PRIMARILY THE TARGETED POPULATION. YOUTHS PARTICIPATING SHOWED STEADY ATTENDANCE AND SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME IN NONPREFERRED ACTIVITIES WHEN POINTS WERE ADMINISTERED. THE GYM WAS THE MOST POPULAR AREA OF BOTH CONTINGENT AND NONCONTINGENT NIGHTS. LIBRARY ACTIVITIES WERE THE LEAST POPULAR WHEN NO REINFORCEMENT WAS GIVEN. A COMPARISON BETWEEN YOUTHS WITH AND WITHOUT PRIOR POLICE CONTACT INDICATED POLICE CONTACT YOUTHS PREFERRED THE GYM, WHILE THE NONCONTACT GROUP PREFERRED THE ARTS AND CRAFTS AREA. PROBLEMS WITH INVOLUNTARY OR INSTITUTIONAL BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAMS ARE EXAMINED, AND MINOR PROBLEMS IN STAFF SELECTION AND EXCLUDING UNINVITED YOUTH ARE DISCUSSED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)