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EVALUATION OF A COMMUNITY-BASED BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM FOR PREVENTION OF DELINQUENCY - THE FAILURE OF SUCCESS

NCJ Number
46844
Journal
Community Mental Health Journal Volume: 13 Issue: 4 Dated: (WINTER 1977)
Author(s)
W S DAVIDSON; T R WOLFRED
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
WHILE THE INPROGRAM EVALUATION OF A RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM WAS FAVORABLE, FOLLOWUP COMPARISON WITH A CONTROL GROUP INDICATED FAILURE TO PRODUCE DESIRABLE SOCIAL OUTCOMES FOR DISCHARGED YOUTH.
Abstract
THE INTERVENTION PROGRAM WAS CARRIED OUT IN A SMALL GROUP HOME, THE CRISIS CARE CENTER IN DANVILLE, ILL., AND USED BEHAVIORAL TECHNIQUES BASED ON SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY TO TREAT 53 PREDELINQUENT OR BEHAVIORAL YOUTHS AGE SEVEN TO 17 YEARS (26 MALES, 27 FEMALES; 45 WHITES, AND 8 BLACKS). THE PROGRAM INCLUDED AN OPEN-SYSTEM TOKEN ECONOMY TRANSLATABLE TO PRIVILEGES AND MATERIAL AND MONETARY REINFORCEMENT, AND A SEQUENTIAL PROGRESSIVE-LEVEL SYSTEM THAT ESTABLISHED PERFORMANCE CRITERIA FOR MOVEMENT TO THE NEXT HIGHEST LEVEL. THE INPROGRAM EVALUATION IS DESCRIBED. IT SUGGESTED THAT THE BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES WERE EFFECTIVE. OF THREE REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULES TESTED, THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAS THE ONE COMPLETELY CONTINGENT ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE. FIFTY-THREE YOUTHS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE PROGRAM. OF THE 53 SUBJECTS, 42 WERE MATCHED WITH A YOUTH IN THE CONTROL GROUP FOR A FOLLOWUP 9 MONTHS LATER. THE EXPERIMENTAL SUBJECTS HAD MORE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM CONTACTS, MORE INSTITUTIONAL RATHER THAN FOSTER HOME PLACEMENTS, AND WORSE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE. HYPOTHESES ARE ADVANCED TO EXPLAIN THE NEGATIVE RESULTS. SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE PROGRAM BECAME EVIDENT ONLY AFTER THE STUDENTS RETURNED TO THEIR ENVIRONMENT, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT FURTHER RESEARCH SHOULD FOCUS ON CONTEXTUAL VARIABLES. REFERENCES, FIGURES AND TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED.