The first Contingency we’ll be working on is: The Ineffective Natural Contingency

1. The first Contingency we’ll be working on is: The Ineffective Natural Contingency Estimated Time: 15 min.

2. Julie’s on the swim team. Her coach says they’re doing more goofing off than practicing. So she’s going to try something new… If everyone improves their productivity by 15%, they can listen to music during the next practice.

3. Let’s look at the Three-Contingency model for this example: Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability Julie will lose the opportunity to listen to music at the next practice Julie practices hard Julie will not lose the opportunity to listen to music at the next practice Julie fears losing the opportunity to listen to music Julie practices hard Julie does not fear losing the opportunity to listen to music

4. Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability Julie will lose the opportunity to listen to music at the next practice Julie practices hard Julie will not lose the opportunity to listen to music at the next practice Julie fears losing the opportunity to listen to music Julie practices hard Julie does not fear losing the opportunity to listen to music The first contingency is the Ineffective Natural Contingency.

5. The first test for this contingency is the “Natural Contingency Test”. We need to determine whether the contingency exists prior to performance management. If it does, it’s a natural contingency.

6. #2 Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability Does this contingency exist prior to performance management? A. Yes B. No

7. Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability Oops, does anyone add the increase in Julie’s ability, or is it just something that happens? Look again! Does this contingency exist prior to performance management? A. Yes B. No Back to the question!

8. Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability You’re right, nobody added this contingency! Does this contingency exist prior to performance management? A. Yes B. No

9. #3 Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability So then, what kind of contingency is this? A. PM Contingency B. Natural Contingency

10. Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability No, no one added this…she naturally gets a little bit better after each time she practices. That’s why this is a NATURAL contingency So then, what kind of contingency is this? A. PM Contingency B. Natural Contingency Back to the question!

11. Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability That’s right! Julie naturally gets better each time she practices hard…so this is a natural contingency. So then, what kind of contingency is this? A. PM Contingency B. Natural Contingency

12. Now we know that this contingency is a natural contingency…it existed prior to performance management…but we have to ask a few more questions, to make sure that it is the INEFFECTIVE Natural Contingency.

13. Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability First, we look at the before and after conditions…and see if the change from the before to the after condition is large and/or probable.

14. This is the “Ineffective Contingency Test” If the change is small… Or improbable… Then the contingency is ineffective.

15. #4 Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability Is this contingency effective or ineffective? A. Ineffective B. Effective

16. Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability Is this contingency effective or ineffective? Wait a minute! Look at the before and after conditions again! A. Ineffective B. Effective Back to the question!

17. Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability Good job! This contingency is ineffective. Keep going to find out why. Is this contingency effective or ineffective? A. Ineffective B. Effective

18. #5 Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability We know this contingency is ineffective, but why? A. The outcome is too improbable B. The outcome is too small

19. Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability No…every time Julie practices, there’s an increase in her level of swimming ability. The problem is not the probability, it’s the small but cumulative outcome! We know this contingency is ineffective, but why? A. The outcome is too improbable B. The outcome is too small Back to the question!

20. Before Behavior After Julie has given level of swimming ability Julie practices hard Julie has infinitesimally greater swimming ability Very good. The increase in ability is infinitesimal, which means very small. We know this contingency is ineffective, but why? A. The outcome is too improbable B. The outcome is too small

21. #6 Before Behavior After You have a very small chance of getting hurt or killed in a car accident You buckle your safety belt You have an infinitesimally smaller chance of being hurt or killed How about this one. Is this contingency a natural contingency? A. Yes B. No

22. Before Behavior After You have a very small chance of getting hurt or killed in a car accident You buckle your safety belt You have an infinitesimally smaller chance of being hurt or killed Excellent!!!! This contingency exists without anyone adding or planning it. How about this one. Is this contingency a natural contingency? A. Yes B. No

23. Before Behavior After You have a very small chance of getting hurt or killed in a car accident You buckle your safety belt You have an infinitesimally smaller chance of being hurt or killed No, this IS a natural contingency. It exists before (and without) any performance management contingencies! How about this one. Is this contingency a natural contingency? A. Yes B. No Back to the question!

24. #7 Before Behavior After You have a very small chance of getting hurt or killed in a car accident You buckle your safety belt You have an infinitesimally smaller chance of being hurt or killed Is this contingency effective or ineffective? A. Effective B. Ineffective

25. Before Behavior After You have a very small chance of getting hurt or killed in a car accident You buckle your safety belt You have an infinitesimally smaller chance of being hurt or killed Careful, this contingency is INEFFECTIVE! Look at the before and after conditions again. Is this contingency effective or ineffective? A. Effective B. Ineffective Back to the question!

26. Before Behavior After You have a very small chance of getting hurt or killed in a car accident You buckle your safety belt You have an infinitesimally smaller chance of being hurt or killed Is this contingency effective or ineffective? Right, this contingency is INEFFECTIVE! A. Effective B. Ineffective

27. #8 Before Behavior After You have a very small chance of getting hurt or killed in a car accident You buckle your safety belt You have an infinitesimally smaller chance of being hurt or killed Why is this contingency ineffective? A. The outcome is too small B. The outcome is too improbable

28. Before Behavior After You have a very small chance of getting hurt or killed in a car accident You buckle your safety belt You have an infinitesimally smaller chance of being hurt or killed No, it’s ineffective because it’s too improbable…you have less of a CHANCE of getting hurt…you don’t get hurt a little bit each time. Why is this contingency ineffective? A. The outcome is too small B. The outcome is too improbable Back to the question!

29. Before Behavior After You have a very small chance of getting hurt or killed in a car accident You buckle your safety belt You have an infinitesimally smaller chance of being hurt or killed Why is this contingency ineffective? That’s right!!!! Getting seriously hurt in an accident is not very likely…so it won’t control behavior. A. The outcome is too small B. The outcome is too improbable

30. When we’re analyzing the Three-Contingency Model, it’s also important to distinguish between the Ineffective Natural Contingency and Effective Competing Contingencies. This is the“Competing Contingency Test”

31. Before Behavior After Julie has no social reinforcers Julie talks with friends Julie has social reinforcers Effective Competing Contingencies have outcomes that compete with the Natural Contingency. Talking with friends effectively competes with practicing hard.

32. #9 So, which of these is a natural contingency? Before Behavior After You have given level of knowledge You read one page You have infinitesimally greater knowledge A. You have no visual and auditory stimulation You watch TV You have visual and auditory stimulation B. • A is a Natural Contingency • B is a Natural Contingency • C.Both A and B are Natural Contingencies

33. Well, B is a natural contingency. But look at A … did anybody add or plan that contingency? So, which of these is a natural contingency? Before Behavior After After You have given level of knowledge You read one page You have infinitesimally greater knowledge A. You have no visual and auditory stimulation You watch TV You have visual and auditory stimulation B. • A is a Natural Contingency • B is a Natural Contingency • C.Both A and B are Natural Contingencies Back to the question!

34. Yes, A is a natural contingency. However, look also at B. Did anybody add or plan that contingency? So, which of these is a natural contingency? Before Behavior Behavior After After You have given level of knowledge You read one page You have infinitesimally greater knowledge A. You have no visual and auditory stimulation You watch TV You have visual and auditory stimulation B. • A is a Natural Contingency • B is a Natural Contingency • C.Both A and B are Natural Contingencies Back to the question!

35. You got it!!!! Both of these exist prior to performance management…no one designed them to manage performance. Which of these is a natural contingency? Before Behavior After After You have given level of knowledge You read one page You have infinitesimally greater knowledge A. You have no visual and auditory stimulation You watch TV You have visual and auditory stimulation B. • A is a Natural Contingency • B is a Natural Contingency • C.Both A and B are Natural Contingencies

36. #10 Which of these is ineffective? Before Behavior After You have given level of knowledge You read one page You have infinitesimally greater knowledge A. You have no visual and auditory stimulation You watch TV You have visual and auditory stimulation B. • A is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • B is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • Neither. Both A and B are effective • Both A and B are ineffective

37. You’re exactly right…the outcome is too small to control the behavior. Which of these is ineffective? Before Behavior After After You have given level of knowledge You read one page You have infinitesimally greater knowledge A. You have no visual and auditory stimulation You watch TV You have visual and auditory stimulation B. • A is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • B is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • Neither. Both A and B are effective • Both A and B are ineffective

38. A is ineffective, because the outcome is too small. Which of these is ineffective? Before Behavior After You have given level of knowledge You read one page You have infinitesimally greater knowledge A. You have no visual and auditory stimulation You watch TV You have visual and auditory stimulation B. No, B is effective. It’s an Effective Competing Contingency…the outcome is big enough and probable enough to control the behavior. • A is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • B is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • Neither. Both A and B are effective • Both A and B are ineffective Back to the question!

39. No, one of these contingencies is ineffective. See if you can figure out which one! Which of these is ineffective? Before Behavior After After You have given level of knowledge You read one page You have infinitesimally greater knowledge A. You have no visual and auditory stimulation You watch TV You have visual and auditory stimulation B. • A is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • B is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • Neither. Both A and B are effective • Both A and B are ineffective Back to the question!

40. Which of these is ineffective? No, B is effective. It’s an Effective Competing Contingency…the outcome is big enough and probable enough to control the behavior. Before Behavior Behavior After After You have given level of knowledge You read one page You have infinitesimally greater knowledge A. You have no visual and auditory stimulation You watch TV You have visual and auditory stimulation B. • A is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • B is the Ineffective Natural Contingency • Neither. Both A and B are effective • Both A and B are ineffective Back to the question!

41. Let’s try a few more examples, to make sure you’ve got this stuff down.

42. You are trying to quit smoking, so you tell your roommate you will pay him $1 for every cigarette you smoke…

43. #11 You do not feel the rush of nicotine You take a puff You do feel the rush of nicotine You will not have To pay your Roommate $1 You take a puff You will have to Pay your roommate $1 You have a given Level of health You take a puff You have Infinitesimally worse health Which of these contingencies would be the correct Ineffective Natural Contingency? A. B. C. A. A is the correct Contingency B. B is the correct Contingency C. C is the correct Contingency D. None of the Contingencies are correct.

44. You do not feel the rush of nicotine You take a puff You do feel the rush of nicotine You will not have To pay your Roommate $1 You take a puff You will have to Pay your roommate $1 You have a given Level of health You take a puff You have Infinitesimally worse health Which of these contingencies would be the correct Ineffective Natural Contingency? No, one of the contingencies is ineffective. See which one it is. A. B. C. A. A is the correct Contingency B. B is the correct Contingency C. C is the correct Contingency D. None of the Contingencies are correct. Back to the question!

45. You do not feel the rush of nicotine You take a puff You do feel the rush of nicotine You will not have to pay your Roommate $1 You take a puff You will have to pay your roommate $1 You have a given level of health You take a puff You have infinitesimally worse health Which of these contingencies would be the correct Ineffective Natural Contingency? Nope…B is an effective contingency. Try the question again! A. B. C. A. A is the correct Contingency B. B is the correct Contingency C. C is the correct Contingency D. None of the Contingencies are correct. Back to the question!

46. You do not feel the rush of nicotine You take a puff You do feel the rush of nicotine You will not have To pay your Roommate $1 You take a puff You will have to Pay your roommate $1 You have a given Level of health You take a puff You have Infinitesimally worse health Which of these contingencies would be the correct Ineffective Natural Contingency? This one is the effective competing contingency. So it fails the ineffective contingency test. Try it again! A. A. B. B. C. A. A is the correct Contingency B. B is the correct Contingency C. C is the correct Contingency D. None of the Contingencies are correct. Back to the question!

47. You do not feel the rush of nicotine You take a puff You do feel the rush of nicotine You will not have To pay your Roommate $1 You take a puff You will have to Pay your roommate $1 You have a given Level of health You take a puff You have Infinitesimally worse health Which of these contingencies would be the correct Ineffective Natural Contingency? You’re right!!! C passes all the tests!!! A. B. C. A. A is the correct Contingency B. B is the correct Contingency C. C is the correct Contingency D. None of the Contingencies are correct.

48. Yoko wants to practice her violin more. For every day she doesn’t practice, for 30 minutes, Yoko will have to do one of her roommate, Rick’s, chores .

49. #12 Yoko has a given level of ability on the violin Yoko practices her violin for 30 minutes Yoko has an infinitesimally higher level of ability on the violin Yoko has 30 minutes of free time Yoko practices her violin for 30 minutes Yoko doesn’t have 30 minutes of free time Yoko will have to do one of her roommate’s chores on Saturday Yoko practices her violin for 30 minutes Yoko won’t have to do one of her roommate’s chores on Saturday Which of these contingencies would be the correct Ineffective Natural Contingency? A. B. C. A. A is the correct Contingency B. B is the correct Contingency C. C is the correct Contingency D. None of the Contingencies are correct.

50. Yoko has a given level of ability on the violin Yoko practices her violin for 30 minutes Yoko has an infinitesimally higher level of ability on the violin Yoko has 30 minutes of free time Yoko practices her violin for 30 minutes Yoko doesn’t have 30 minutes of free time Yoko will have to do one of her roommate’s chores on Saturday Yoko practices her violin for 30 minutes Yoko won’t have to do one of her roommate’s choreson Saturday Which of these contingencies would be the correct Ineffective Natural Contingency? A. Watch out! This is the Effective Competing Contingency. Look at the contingencies again. B. C. A. A is the correct Contingency B. B is the correct Contingency C. C is the correct Contingency D. None of the Contingencies are correct. Back to the question!