Social Studies Middle School Guide

Canyons School District

Instructional Supports Department

GROUP CONTINGENCY

Effect Size 1.02

Implementation Tools

Critical Actions for Educators ----------------------- ● Select a contingency. ● Set the criteria. ● Choose the positive reward. ● Use a visual system to track progress. ● Give feedback.

A group response contingency reinforces an entire group when particular members meet the arranged condition or contingency. The contingency can be evaluated on the performance of a specifc individual, the average of two or three random students’ performances, or the average of the highest and lowest students’ performance.

Group Contingency Implementation Steps

● Individual - A group of students receives a reward when a few randomly selective students perform the desired behavior. Example - Entire class receives 3 extra minutes at recess for three randomly selected students turning in their homework. ● Collective - The reward is contingent upon an entire class (or group) performing a desired behavior. Example - When all students are in their seats working individually on an assignment, music is played. If a student leaves their seat, the music is paused until all students are back in their seats. ● Identify an observable and measurable behavior. ● Check student capability of the behavior, and make sure it is a behavior that has been explicitly taught. ● Collect baseline data. ● Decide on the reward that will be earned by the group. It should always be positive reward or privilege. Students should not be punished if they do not receive the reward. This can be especially harmful for students from marginalized communities. ● The positive consequence should be easily dispensed, inexpensive, and not require a lot of time. ● Students should have some input on what rewards they would be interested in earning. ● Monitoring positive progress visually can be extremely motivating to students. ● Visual feedback might include positive marks on the board, marbles in a jar, flling sections of a thermometer poster when the group is on-task for 5 minutes, etc.

Select a Contingency

Select the Criteria

Choose Reward

Track Positive Progress