Date of Award

4-1980

Degree Name

Specialist in Education

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. R. Wayne Fuqua

Second Advisor

Dr. Howard Farris

Third Advisor

Dr. Paul Mountjoy

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

The effects of staff training, incentive, and information and feedback on incidence of vandalism were compared in a four dormitory complex. The staff training condition was implemented on resident advisors and taught alcohol education, confrontation skills, and programming skills. For the incentive dormitory, residents received money in a floor fund which was then exchanged for back-up reinforcers. Residents in the information and feedback dormitory were prompted to reduce vandalism via flyers, activities, and a feedback chart posted on each floor. All dormitories experienced an increase in the drinking age from 18 to 21 years of age during the second semester of the study. Results showed that all experimental conditions were somewhat effective in reducing the cost and incidence of malicious destruction of property, though it appears that the increase in the drinking age produced the most significant effects. This study serves as a parameter analysis of conditions affecting vandalism in a community setting. From this analysis, further research may be implemented to fine tune the interventions implemented in the present study.

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