A 6-mo. exploratory study showed the effectiveness of an operant conditioning program in a juvenile detention facility. Ss were emotionally disturbed delinquents. A unit economy based on a behavior-contingent point system proved effective even when extrinsic rewards were given infrequently. Immediacy of reinforcement was believed to be a decisive factor in the program's effectiveness. Interviews with staff showed that the system was most helpful in group control.
