Comparison of Response Cost and Timeout in a Special Education Setting

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Abstract
Two punishment procedures, response cost and timeout, were compared to determine their effectiveness in reducing rates of noncompliance in a class of educable mentally retarded children. Response cost consisted of taking tokens away from a child contingent upon noncompliance with teacher commands. Timeout consisted of placing noncompliant children outside of the group for 1 minute for each noncompliance. Results suggested that response cost was as effective as the response-cost-plus-timeout contingency and that it was the controlling variable in reduction of noncompliant behavior. The potential of response cost as an effective alternative to the use of timeout is discussed, and ethical and legal ramifications concerning the use of punishment in special education settings are addressed.