Self-monitoring, self-administration of token reinforcement, and goal-setting to improve work rates with retarded clients

Abstract

Although many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of self-regulation strategies with non-retarded populations, relatively few studies have examined their value for retarded workers in vocational settings. A Self-Regulation Package (SRP), which incorporated self-monitoring, self-administration of reinforcement, and goal-setting procedures, was investigated as a strategy for increasing the productivity of sheltered workshop clients. A combined multiple-baseline, multi-element, reversal-to-baseline design was used to evaluate the SRP. As a function of the presence of the SRP, production of the 8 clients increased by an average of 43% (range: 19-60). Social validation procedures revealed that clients preferred to work under the SRP conditions versus baseline conditions. Since many workshops for retarded persons have client/staff ratios which do not readily permit staff to undertake additional duties, the adoption of self-regulation strategies could represent an effective and acceptable means of assessing and improving individual rates of production.