Phillips, E. L. (1968).
Achievement place: Token reinforcement procedures in a home-style rehabilitation setting for pre-delinquent boys.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
1, 213-223.
Token reinforcement procedures were designed to modify the
behavior of pre-delinquent boys residing in a
community-based, home-style rehabilitation setting. Points (the
tokens) were redeemable for various privileges such as visiting
their families, watching TV, and riding bicycles. Points were
given by the house-parents contingent upon specified appropriate
behavior and taken away for specified inappropriate behavior. The
frequencies of aggressive statements and poor grammar decreased
while tidiness, punctuality, and amount of homework completed
increased. It was concluded that a token reinforcement procedure,
entirely dependent upon back-up reinforcers naturally available
in a home-style treatment setting, could contribute to an
effective and economical rehabilitation program for
pre-delinquents.