Chapter 26
Contingency Contract
•AKA: Behavioral Contract
•Definition:
–A document that specifies a contingent relationship between
•The completion of a and
•Access to a
•Components
–Description of
•the task/receive reward
•to be performed
•
•the task must be completed
–
•Who will
•What is the
•the reward will be delivered
• of the reward the person will receive
–
•A place to
–Sets occasion for
–Helps individual remain focused and gives
•How do they work?
–Typically a package that involves:
•Reinforcement
•Rules
•Response prompting
–Can even be a self-contract
•Steps to developing one
– to discuss how contracts work, goals, etc.
–Identify individuals can and already do perform
–Identify
–Identify
–Write the contract
•Things to consider
–Is the behavior ?
–Does the behavior result in a ?
–What is the of the learner?
•Evaluating Contracts
–Focus on the of the target behavior
Token Economy
•Definition
–A behavior change system with three major components
•Specified to reinforce
•for emitting those behaviors
•A menu of for which the learner can exchange tokens/points
(Effectiveness of tokens as reinforcers depends upon the power of the back-up reinforcers)
•Designing a Token Economy
–Select
–Identify
–Select
–Establish
–Specify when/how tokens will be
–Field test
•Select Tokens
–Washers, checkers, coupons, poker chips, tally marks, holes punched in cards…
–Considerations
•Safe
•Control
•Durable
•Accessible
•Cheap
•Token should not be a
•Identify Target Behaviors and Rules (see Ch. 3)
–Select measurable/observable behaviors
–Specify criteria for task completion
–Start with a of behaviors
–Ensure learners possess
–It is okay to …rules don’t have to be the same for everybody
•Select a Menu of Back-up Reinforcers
–Use when possible
–Privileges
–Tangibles and edibles can be used as well
–Follow ethical and legal rules
•Establish a Ratio of Exchange
–Initial ratio should be
–After that,
•Procedure for Dispensation
–May need storage containers
•Procedure for Exchange
–Usually a “store” of some sort
–Initially, have store open
–Over time, this can be more
•Field Test the System
–Tally tokens you would have given without actually giving them
–Analyze data to determine if the system seems appropriate
•Tips
–Avoiding “Battles”
•Be when learners don’t earn tokens; don’t nag
•Stay ; about tokens
–Response cost included?
•Most do include response cost
•Learners need to be aware of
•Make the cost fit the
•Avoid having learners go “”
•Implementation
–Initial training
•the procedure to learners
•Model the procedure for
•Model the procedure for
–Ongoing training
•Booster sessions may be needed occasionally
–Management issues
•Teach students (secure location)
•Discourage and encourage in some students
•Chronic rule breakers deserve special consideration
•Implementation
–Withdrawing the token economy
•Plan for maintenance and generalization
•Pair tokens with
•Gradually required to earn tokens
•Gradually it is in place
•Gradually increase number of “ ” reinforcers and fade out use of
•Systematically
•Fade over time
•Considerations
–Can be intrusive and difficult to implement
–Can be cumbersome
–Can be so rewarding to interventionist that he/she doesn’t want to remove it
–Ensure it doesn’t run counter to federal mandates
Group Contingencies
•Definition
–A common consequence is contingent on the behavior of
•An individual member of the group,
•Part of the group, or
•Everyone in the group
•Rationale
–Can be a time saver
–Can be more practical
–Capitalizes on peer influence and peer monitoring (can also be potentially harmful)
•Applications
–group contingency
•A contingency is presented to all members of a group, but reinforcement is only delivered
•Often combined with contracts or token systems
–group contingency, AKA “______”
•The reinforcer for the group is dependent on the performance of
–group contingency
•must meet the criterion of the contingency before any member earns reinforcement
– meets criterion
–meets criterion
–Good Behavior/Good Student games (competitions)
•Implementation
–Choose a
–Determine the behavior to change and that might be affected
–Set appropriate
–Combine with other procedures
–Select the most appropriate group contingency
–Monitor and performance