Date of Award

4-1986

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Malcolm Robertson

Second Advisor

Chris Koronakos

Third Advisor

Roger Ulrich

Fourth Advisor

James Gilchrist

Abstract

This study examined if regular planned contact compared to no contact with a trainer made a difference in terms of dropout rate and success rate in the treatment of enuresis using a conditioning device. The study additionally attempted to determine if the frequency of contact had an impact on success and dropout rates. Twelve boys and six girls were assigned to one of three groups, a high contact group, medium contact group, and no contact group. Other than matching for age, subjects were randomly assigned. All subjects received the same training on the use of the conditioning device. Subjects in the high contact group had weekly contact with the experimenter consisting of a phone call one week and a face-to-face appointment the following week. The medium contact group had biweekly contact with the experimenter consisting of a phone contact after 2 weeks with a face-to-face appointment after 2 more weeks. The no contact group had no planned phone or face-to-face contacts with the experimenter. They mailed stamped, addressed postcards to the trainer weekly on which they had recorded the child's progress. These schedules were maintained throughout the experimental phase. After criterion was reached (14 consecutive dry nights) or 120 days had elapsed, the experimental period was terminated. A 1-month follow-up period ensued at the end of which the experimenter contacted the family by phone to assess progress. The lowest dropout rate occurred in the high contact group, but the highest success rate and the shortest amount of time to criterion occurred in the medium contact group.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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