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APPLYING “GROUF” CONTINGENCIES TO THE CLASSROOM STUDY BEHAVIOR OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN 1
Author(s) -
Bushell Don,
Wrobel Patricia Ann,
Michaelis Mary Louise
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-55
Subject(s) - psychology , developmental psychology , contingency management , contingency , reinforcement , token economy , social psychology , intervention (counseling) , psychiatry , linguistics , philosophy
A group of 12 children were enrolled in a preschool class. During the first experimental stage they participated in special events contingent on token earning. Tokens were acquired by engaging in a variety of study behaviors. After a level of study behavior was established under this contingency, the special events were provided noncontingently. Study behavior declined throughout the noncontingent stage. Reestablishing the original contingencies produced an immediate return to the initial level of study behavior. Noncontingent special events reduced the amount of independent study, group participation, and cooperative study. The study behavior of each child was altered in the same direction, though differences in the magnitude of effects from child to child were observed.