Application of Operant Token Reinforcement to Academic Performance of an Institutionalized Delinquent

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Abstract
Operant techniques were employed to strengthen the academic performance of Nick, a glib, manipulative, delinquently-identified, 16-yr.-old boy with an IQ of 108, committed for stealing four cars. Reports stated he felt “dumb” in school and resisted the educational process. Nick “rented” the use of his mattress at night and the right to wear his clothes instead of institutional clothes and purchased canteen items (cigarettes, candy, gum, etc.) with tokens. He earned tokens with daily and weekly school grades. Over 30 wk., average weekly grades improved slightly. Previous grade point averages were: .60, 1.00, .50, and 1.20; with reinforcement, averages rose to 3.00. Grading bias of teachers was in the opposite direction. Teachers reported Nick disliked school but still worked for tokens. It v/as concluded that token reinforcement improved academic performance, but better controlled studies are needed to develop and validate this approach.

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