Contracts

Advantages

Points to consider

Contract Elements

A statement about the task is present. The contract describes what the person will do in order to earn a reward. Any description of a task meets the requirements for this element. Examples "do my work," "do better in arithmetic," "pay attention," "be good in class," ...

The described task is observable. Examples: "hand in my daily homework assignments," "feed the class hamster," "complete 10 arithmetic problems." Statements such as "I'll be good" do not meet the requirements of this element.

The contract states when the task will be accomplished. Any mention of time satisfactorily meets the requirements of this element. Examples: "when I get home," "each day," "during class," "on time," ...

The contract states how much of a task, or how well a task, will be performed. Any mention of quantity or quality is adequate. Examples: "all my science," "all my work," "during the whole math class period," "do all my arithmetic correctly," "pay attention by looking at the teacher," "get an A on my spelling assignments," ... (Note: adjectives such as more, a lot, some, better and very well, do not meet the requirements of this element.

A statement describing a reward is present in the contract. Any description of a reward which follows the task meets the requirements of this element. The use of a punisher is not appropriate. This would occur only when the contract was written as a punishing contract. Example: "When I talk-out in class, Ms Smith will take away two minutes of recess."

When the reward will be awarded is indicated. Any indication of time is adequate. Examples: "after school," "each day when I get home," "at noon each day," "on Friday,"

How much of the reward is to be given is indicated. Any mention of quantity meets this requirement. When the amount of a reward is clear, it is not necessary that a numeral be stated in the contract. For example: "eat a candy bar each day" is adequate. An unacceptable description of the amount reward would be "watch television each day." In this example, there is no indication of how much TV watching will be allowed. An acceptable description would be "watch TV from when I get home after school until supper," or "watch '3, 2, 1, Contact each day."

The contract shows a relationship between reward and task which indicates that the reward occurs after the task is completed. The time indicated for the task and for the reward reflect the proper relationship (i.e., task occurs before the reward is awarded). For example, "Jeff will get a special surprise after he gets a B in arithmetic on his report card." In contracts where the time for task and reward are merely stated as "each day," this element would not be present. However, the use of the phrase "after school" in a contract involving a school task would be adequate.

The amount of reward is appropriate for the task. Examples of unacceptable rewards for tasks are "When I complete one math assignment, I will buy myself a candy bar each day for a week"; or "When I get A's on my weekly quizzes in science, history, and spelling for one month, I will treat myself to a piece of candy. When the quantity of either the task or the reward is not specified clearly, this element is not stated clearly.

Implementation Steps

"A contract is an agreement between two people. For example, when you take something to a repair shop, the clerk gives you a ticket. The ticket is a contract that she will repair and return your item. Or when people buy a car. Could you give an example?"

If the child can not, then the teacher can give another example and ask again.

Sources:

Walker, J. E., & Shea T. M. (1988). Behavior Management: A Practical Approach for Educators. Fourth Ed. Columbus, OH: Merrill Publishing Company.

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & W. L. Heward. (1987)(. Applied Behavior Analysis. Columbus, OH: Merrill Publishing Company pp477-485.


Dr. Robert Sweetland's Notes ©