Graduation Year
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Granting Department
Applied Behavior Analysis
Major Professor
Jennifer L. Austin, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Harold Keller, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kelly Powell-Smith, Ph.D.
Keywords
education, children, token economy, involvement, positive reinforcement, educational activities
Abstract
Previous research has examined the effectiveness of placing parents on a variety of incentive programs which would increase their likeliness to participate in school related activities. That research suggested that establishing school as a reinforcing environment for parents was vital. Due to these findings, this study examined the effects of a token economy on parent involvement at a low-income elementary school. Teachers were trained in the data collection method, and parental behavior was observed on a daily, weekly and bi-weekly schedule. Measures of social validity were obtained through teacher and parent questionnaires.
The data from the research study suggested that the implementation of the token economy did increase the amount of parent participation, but only on a "micro" level. Parent involvement on a larger scale such as participation in after school activities such as PTA's and other large scale school related activities were not affected.
Scholar Commons Citation
Cayer, Krista Stinson, "Creating Positive Experiences: Increasing Parent Participation In A Low Income Elementary School" (2003). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/1338
