Two studies designed to increase the low production rates of severely retarded workers in a sheltered workshop setting are described. In one, differential reinforcement of higher rate was used to increase the rate of assembly of a cable harness from 13% of the standard rate of normal workers to almost 50% of the norm standard. In the second, a system of self-delivery of reward was used to shorten the time required to assemble a test adapter. The subject was trained successfully to perform a quality control check. The implications of the two studies for sheltered workshop settings are explored.
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