Increasing classroom compliance of noncompliant elementary-age students

This investigation examined the effectiveness of individualized and group contingency management procedures following compliance training with the "Sure I Will" incentive program in modifying the noncompliant classroom behavior of elementary-age students. Through the use of a reversal design, data were collected on the rate of classroom compliance of 8 subjects to teacher requests. Treatment consisted of a series of compliance training lessons entitled the"Sure I Will" incentive program. Subjects were taught to: (a) comply to teacher requests and (b) comply immediately (within 5 seconds). A dependent group contingency procedure was used with one group of 3 subjects (Group A). All members of the home-base classroom were reinforced when the daily compliance rate of a randomly selected group member met or exceeded 80%. A second group of 3 subjects (Group B) participated in an individualized contingency management procedure and were reinforced when their daily rate of classroom compliance was 80%. A third group, consisting of 2 subjects (Group C), served as controls.;The major results of this investigation demonstrated that all subjects increased their rates of classroom compliance following compliance training with the "Sure I Will" incentive program. Subjects participating in the group contingency management procedure, in combination with the "Sure I Will" incentive program, made superior gains in rates of classroom compliance over subjects participating in the individualized contingency management procedure, in combination with the"Sure I Will" incentive program. Generalized treatment gains were maintained for 6 of the 8 subjects at a 2-month follow-up, with subjects participating in the group contingency management procedure maintaining the greatest long-term effects. Control subjects showed improved rates of classroom compliance following instruction of the "Sure I Will" incentive program despite any contingency management intervention. Both subjects and teachers responded positively to a consumer satisfaction questionnaire. Finally, an examination of subject age revealed that the "Sure I Will" incentive program was more effective with younger elementary-age students. The focus of this research was solely on the use of positive reinforcement; therefore, no aversive or punishing procedures were used.