Reactivity of self-monitoring procedures with retarded adolescents

The reactivity of self-monitoring procedures with retarded adolescents was investigated using single-case designs. The effects of two variables, social reinforcement and feedback, on the degree of reactivity were also examined. Both subjects monitored a socially undesirable behavior and were asked to self-record for extended periods of time with minimal cues from the environment. The results indicated that self-monitoring produced reactive decreases in the target behavior. Reinforcement had a differential effect across subjects, further altering the target behavior for only one subject. Feedback decreased the behavior for the second subject. The subjects' accuracy in self-recording was quite low.