Unit 7 Flashcards
Contingency contract
A document that specifies a contingent
relationship between the completion of a
specified behavior or tsk and access to a
specific reward
Contracts are not used for
Skill acquisition
Contracts are used for
Permanent products
Contracts
The individual’s verbal repertoire must be
sufficiently advanced so that his/her behavior
comes under the control of the contract
Necessary elements of a contract
Task
Signatures
Reward
Data collection
Progress record
Should monitor progress of contract and
provide interim rewards
Premack principle
The opportunity to engage in a highprobability behavior contingent upon the
occurrence of low-probability behavior will
reinforce the low-probability behavior
Contracting rules
Payoff should be immediate Initially reward small approximations Reward frequently with small amounts Reward accomplishments, not obedience Reward performance after it occurs The contract must be fair, honest, and positive The terms of the contract must be clear Contracting methods used systematically
DeRisi model
Date contract begins and ends Behavior Amount and kind of reward Signatures of all involved Schedule for review of progress
Group contingency
A contingency in which reinforcement for all
members of a group is dependent on the
behavior of a person within the group, a
select of group members within the larger
group, or each member of the group meeting
a performance criterion
Consider using group contingencies when
Group of persons share certain problem
Unrealistic to set up individual programs
Difficult to identify the person responsible for
x behavior
Singling out one person to reward may cause
problems with peers
Types of group contingencies
Independent
Dependent
Interdependent
Independent group contingency
A contingency in which reinforcement for
each member of a group is dependent on
that person’s meeting a performance criterion
which is in effect for all members of the group
Dependent group contingency
A contingency in which reinforcement for all
members of a group is dependent on the
behavior of one member of the group or the
behavior of a select members within the larger group
Dependent group contingency is also known
as
Hero procedure
Consequence sharing
Interdependent group contingency
A contingency in which reinforcement for all
group members of a group is dependent on
each member of the group meeting a
performance criterion that is in effect for all
members of the group
Group average: Advantage
Group members may continue to work hard
to meet criterion even when they see peers
failing to meet the criterion
Group average: Disadvantage
Some group member may become “free
riders”
Advantage of random selection with group
contingencies
As it is uncertain who will be selected as the
person to be evaluated, all members may
work harder and try to meet the criterion
Advantages of group contingencies
May save time as do not need to design multiple
programs
May be easier to implement that individualized
programs
May work quickly
Takes advantage of natural peer-to-peer influence
Group members may encourage “hero” or all
other peers
Group members may discontinue reinforcing
undesirable behavior of “hero” or all other peers
Disadvantages of group contingencies
If the “hero” does not earn the reward or if
some peers lose the reward for the group,
others may retaliate
Can be tricky to implement successfully
depending on the makeup of the group
May have other undesirable effects
