Effects of Group Reinforcement and Punishment on Classroom Behavior

Group token reinforcement and punishment procedures were used to alter appropriate behaviors in a class of educably retarded students. Baseline observations were made to determine the rate six students were performing appropriate behaviors. A group token program was implemented where students could earn points if the entire class was paying attention when a timer sounded at various time intervals. Points earned could be exchanged at the end of each day for a special event. This program was removed and points were given to the group inde- pendent of performance. In the final phase a punishment procedure was used in which points were given at the beginning of the class session and withdrawn from the group if anyone was not attending when the timer sounded. Appropriate behaviors increased over baseline during the reinforcement and punishment phases. Performance tended to decline when the tokens were delivered without requiring appropriate behavior. Practical advantages of group procedures are discussed.