Effects of social reinforcement and visual feedback on work production among mentally retarded sheltered workshop clients.

Abstract

Although social reinforcement in the form of praise, tokens, and monetary reward has been effective in developing productivity among mentally retarded sheltered workshop clients, control groups were not included (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). The present study investigated the combined effects of two forms of positive reinforcement (verbal praise and visual feedback of earnings) on production rate, using a control group. Twelve mentally retarded subjects whose mean intelligence quotient was 59.44 were randomly assigned to two groups (reinforced n = 4; nooreinforced n = 8) engaged in a ball-bearing sorting task in a sheltered workshop, 6 hr. a day for 15 days over a 3-wk period. They were paid at an established piece work rate. Lined cards were used to record and display earnings for each subject in the reinforced group. Amounts were posted at the end of each hour and praise accompanied increases from baseline production levels. Thus, verbal and visual reinforcement were provided each subject on a fixed-interval schedule. Control group subjects did not receive either form of reinforcement from supervisors and the latter were not trained in oDerant conditioning ~rocedures. -. Analysis of variance of earnings supported the hypothesis that positive reinforcement was an effective means of increasing work productivity for these mentally retarded sheltered workshop clients over a brief period of time (FI.IO = 31.11, p < ,001). The results also suggest that production rates for such individuals can be increased without tokens or purchases of such material reinforcers as clothing. food, and other consumer goods.