NCJ Number
53876
Date Published
1973
Length
152 pages
Annotation
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A TREATMENT APPROACH COMBINING BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AND GROUP MEETINGS IN INFLUENCING THE BEHAVIOR OF YOUTHS ON PROBATION IS EXPLORED.
Abstract
THE 14 EXPERIMENTAL AND 13 CONTROL SUBJECTS WERE MALE JUVENILES ATTENDING HIGH SCHOOLS IN A RURAL CALIFORNIA COUNTY AND SERVING PROBATIONARY TERMS RANGING FROM 2 MONTHS TO AN INDETERMINATE SENTENCE. BASELINE DATA ON FOUR BEHAVIORS--SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, CLASSROOM PROMPTNESS, DISCIPLINARY REFERRALS, AND VIOLATIONS OF PROBATION--WERE GATHERED OVER AN 8-WEEK PERIOD. DURING A 6-WEEK REINFORCEMENT PHASE, EXPERIMENTAL SUBJECTS WERE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND GROUP MEETINGS CONDUCTED BY PROBATION OFFICERS AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS. THE SUBJECTS COULD EARN POINTS FOR ATTENDING THE MEETINGS AND FOR THEIR PERFORMANCE RELATIVE TO THE FOUR BEHAVIORS. THE POINTS COULD BE EXCHANGED FOR DAYS OFF PROBATION. AT THE END OF THE 6 WEEKS, THE REINFORCEMENT PROCEDURES WERE TERMINATED, BUT WEEKLY MEETINGS, USING CONVENTIONAL GROUP COUNSELING METHODS, CONTINUED. AFTER THIS 4-WEEK NONREINFORCEMENT PHASE, POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT WAS REINSTITUTED FOR 6 WEEKS. DURING THE ENTIRE 24-WEEK STUDY PERIOD, CONTROL SUBJECTS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH PROBATION OFFICERS AND SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN CONVENTIONAL GROUP COUNSELING SESSIONS. ALTHOUGH SCHOOL ATTENDANCE, CLASSROOM PROMPTNESS, AND DISCIPLINE REFERRALS WERE NOT SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED THROUGH THE USE OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES, PROBATION VIOLATIONS WERE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. GROUP MEETING ATTENDANCE WAS HIGHER DURING THE REINFORCEMENT PHASES THAN DURING THE NONREINFORCEMENT PHASE, AND WAS ALSO HIGHER THAN ATTENDANCE AT CONVENTIONAL GROUP COUNSELING SESSIONS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE GROUP MEETING SYSTEM IS A MEANS BY WHICH PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CORRECTIONAL AGENCIES CAN COOPERATE IN THE REHABILITATION OF DELINQUENT YOUTHS. A LITERATURE REVIEW, COPIES OF STUDY INSTRUMENTS, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND SUPPORTING DATA ARE INCLUDED.