THE EFFECTS OF TOKEN REINFORCEMENT ON THE BEHAVIOR OF DELINQUENTS IN COTTAGE SETTINGS 1

Abstract

A token economy designed to modify the behavior of 125 adolescent males committed to a state correctional institution was implemented in the boys' cottages, focusing on social behavior (peer interaction), rule following, and task completion. The program was sequentially introduced in a multiple‐baseline design in three independent cottages; a fourth group served as a comparison cottage. Appropriate behavior increased when the token program was introduced in each cottage. Data were collected for 14 months. Thus, the long‐term effects of initial behavior change were assessed.