BEHAVIORAL EXPERIMENTATION IN THE CONTROL OF ACADEMIC AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIORS OF GHETTO YOUTHS

• NCJ Number: 7278
• Author(s): I A JEFFERY
• Date Published: 1968
• Length: 317 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNPUBLISHED DISSERTATION

Annotation

REMEDIAL EDUCATION AND BEHAVIORAL REHABILITATION OF YOUTH ACCORDING TO PRINCIPLES OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.

Abstract

A QUASI-EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORY INVOLVING DELINQUENT LOWER CLASS NEGRO MALE YOUTHS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WAS ESTABLISHED TO STUDY THE EXTENT TO WHICH HUMAN BEHAVIOR COULD BE ALTERED THROUGH THE APPLICATION OF BEHAVIORAL THEORY AND PROCEDURES. EMPHASIS WAS PLACED ON MANIPULATING THE ACADEMIC BEHAVIORS OF THE SUBJECTS. SECONDLY, ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON THE NATURE OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND DELINQUENT BEHAVIOR. IT WAS PROPOSED THAT AN INCREASE IN LEGITIMATE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD LEAD TO A DECREASE IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE PROJECT, HOWEVER, FAILED TO MOTIVATE, FOR ONLY 25 PERCENT REMAINED UNTIL TERMINATION. THE PROJECT WAS SUCCESSFUL IN CHANGING EDUCATIONAL BEHAVIOR, I.E., READING, MATH AND SCIENCE SCORES, BUT THE DELINQUENCY RATE OF SUBJECTS SHOWED NO DECREASE. THE BOOK CONTAINS A SUMMARY OF BEHAVIORAL THEORY, INCLUDING CONCEPTS, DEFINITIONS, AND APPLICATIONS TO SITUATIONS OF BEHAVIORAL CONTROL. A REVIEW OF CRIMINOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND PROJECTS, A DESCRIPTION OF THE ACADEMIC PROGRAM, AND A STATISTICAL OVERVIEW OF SUBJECTS IS ALSO INCLUDED. APPENDED INFORMATION INCLUDES RESULTS OF PROGRAMMED INSTRUCTION, CONTENTS OF MATHEMATICS CLASS, AND CRIMINAL OFFENSES OF SUBJECTS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED) (BIBLIOGRAPHY)