Date of Award

8-1984

Degree Name

Specialist in Education

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Howard E. Farris

Second Advisor

Dr. Dale Brethower

Third Advisor

Dr. Norm Peterson

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of contingency or behavioral contracting on the generalization of emitting polite words. Generalization as a result of social skills training was compared to generalization as a result of contracting. The subjects were three elementary students identified as emotionally impaired. The experimental design was a combination reversal and multiple baseline across subjects. The results of the study supported the hypothesis that contracting would be more effective than the social skills training in initiating generalization of emitting polite words. It was suggested that additional research be conducted to investigate the long term effects of contracting on generalization of emitting polite words and whether contracting for generalization would be effective with other behaviors. It was also suggested that additional research investigate what stimulus functions the contract possesses.

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Psychology Commons

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