Effectiveness of behavioral contracting procedures as related to locus of control in a group home for youths.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to discern a relationship between locus of control and behavior contracting procedures. The premise was that persons with an internal locus of control would perform behaviors at a significantly higher rate than externals. The dependent variable was effects of contracting procedures; the independent variable was locus of control. Subjects were youths placed in a group home facility. There were 12 males and 12 females, ranging in age from 9 to 17. A between subjects design was implemented. The Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children was initially administered as a measure of internality/externality. Those scoring above the sample mean of 18.33 were designated as externals, those below the mean were internals. House parents, each youth, and the researcher together negotiated contracts. Two contracts were developed for each resident, one for home rules and one for chores. Incidences of appropriate and inappropriate behaviors were recorded in chart format. The study ran for five weeks; one week baseline, three weeks treatment, and one week post-treatment. Data were score data, derived from the tally of occurrences of appropriate behavior. Data were statistically analyzed by means of a t test. Results indicated that neither null hypotheses was rejected: The differences between the locus of control groups and their adherence to behavioral contracts were not significant for either type of contract. The computed t value, though, for contracts concerning home rules did approach significance. Percentages of appropriate behavior were also calculated. Results indicated that contracting lead to increases in appropriate behavior and that the increase for the internal group was greater than that for the external group. It was indicated that the statistical insignificance of this study may have been related to the test scores for this sample being skewed in an internal direction.