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Behavior Change in Children at a Therapeutic
Summer Camp as a Function of Feedback Plus
Individual and Group Contingencies.
Hughes, H.M.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Iowa,
1972.
Purpose:
Determine the effectiveness of two types
of contingency systems, individual and group,
in increasing appropriate behavior during
small group meetings at camp.
Sample:
32 boys and 16 girls ages 8-14 attending
a seven-week camp for behavior disordered
children.
Method/Instruments:
Method: Campers lived in cabin groups of
seven with three counselors. Each counselor
had primary responsibility for two or three
campers in the group. Campers were awarded
points for appropriate behavior while participating
in camp activities. Token meetings were
held each day after the evening meal. During
the meetings campers met with counselors,
totaled points for the day, and contracted
for target behaviors for the next day. Camper
in the individual contingency group received
admission to the canteen based on individual
token scores. In the group contingency,
campers could only go to the canteen if
everyone in the group received at least
three points for that day. During phase
two of the treatment campers received feedback
on behavior and reinforcement. During phase
three campers received feedback but no reinforcement,
and during phase four the group and individual
contingencies were switched.
Instrument: Counselors completed a five-point
rating scale designed to measure camper
behavior at the end of each token meeting.
Each of the five target behaviors were rated
on a pass/fail basis.
Design: Modified ABAB design consisting
of a baseline phase with score used as feedback,
treatment I or G, reversal to score as feedback,
then treatment I or G (opposite of 1st
treatment phase).
Data Analysis: Repeated Measures ANOVA
on the mean score for each week and mean
scores for each group for each week. No
significant difference was found between
contingency groups, therefore, scores were
collapsed across treatment groups and a
MANOVA analysis was used to evaluate differences
between treatment phases across all subjects.
Results:
- The reinforcement contingencies were
highly effective in producing increased
levels of appropriate behavior during
meetings.
- No difference between individual and
group reinforcement contingencies.
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