Effects of various durations of timeout on the noncompliant behavior of children

Abstract

The present study investigated the relationship between duration of timeout and the noncompliant behavior of children. Using a combined between subjects-reversal design, timeout durations of 10 sec, 1 min, or 4 min were applied and subsequently withdrawn. In addition, a control group which received only verbal feedback contingent on noncompliance was used. In comparison with the feedbeck control group, all timeout durations suppressed noncompliance and maintained the behavior at significantly lower levels during the withdrawal period. Furthermore, relative to either of the other two durations, the 4 min timeout was more effective in suppressing the target behavior and maintaining the suppression when the timeout contingency was removed. The 1 min timeout was also associated with significantly less noncompliance than the 10 sec timeout during the withdrawal period. © 1978 Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy.