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CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT AS A MEANS OF REDUCING TRUANCY

NCJ Number
28713
Author(s)
S D BROOKS
Date Published
Unknown
Length
10 pages
Annotation
DESCRIPTION OF A STUDY WHICH COMPARED THE TRUANCY RATE OF A CONTROL GROUP OF 20 KNOWN TRUANTS TO THE TRUANCY RATE OF A GROUP OF 20 TRUANTS WHO PARTICIPATED IN A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM DESIGNED TO REDUCE SCHOOL ABSENCES.
Abstract
THE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED DURING THIS STUDY WERE A MODIFIED TOKEN ECONOMY AND A COLLECTIVE (GROUP) CONTINGENCY CONTRACT. TRUANTS IN THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP WERE REWARDED FOR CLASS ATTENDANCE. A BEHAVIORAL CONTRACT SPECIFYING CLASS ATTENDANCE IN RETURN FOR A SERIES OF REWARDS WAS SIGNED BY EACH STUDENT IN THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP. REWARDS WERE GRADUALLY WITHDRAWN DURING THE EIGHT WEEK EXPERIMENTAL PERIOD. IT WAS FOUND THAT TRUANCY WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS PROCEDURES.