CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT AND SELF-CONTROL TECHNIQUES ON THE REDUCTION OF STEALING BEHAVIOUR AMONG MIDDLE BASIC PUPILS IN ABIA STATE

Abstract

The study examined Contingency Management and Self-Control Techniques on the reduction  of   stealing behaviour among Primary School Pupils In Abia  State. The study adopted quasi-experimental research design. Four research questions and four null hypotheses guided the study. The study  population comprised 1,640 primary school pupils  identified in Aba education Zone  as having problem of stealing hebaviour. The sample  size of  was 30 primary 5 school pupils  that emits stealing behaviour. Stealing Behaviour Questionnaire (SBQ) was used to collect data for the study. The instrument was developed by the researchers on a  4-points scale  of Always (A), Sometimes(S), Often (O) and Never(N) with weights of 4,3,2,and 1 respectively. The instrument was validated  by three experts, two in the field of study and one from measurement and Evaluation, all from Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Person Product Moment Correlation Coefficient  statistical tool was employed  to test the stability and internal consistency of the instrument which  yielded the value of 0.82. Data were collected in three stages namely: the pre-treatment, treatment, post-test and follow-up stages. Collected data were analyzed  using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions. ANCOVA was used to test the null  hypotheses at 0.5 level of significance.  Results of the study revealed  that contingence management and self-control techniques reduced stealing beahviour among  the primary school pupils . It also showed that   the combination of CMT and SCT techniques proved more effective in the reduction of stealing behaviour among the pupils. Based on the findings conclusion  was drawn that counsellors should apply the tested techniques in the treatment of stealing behaviour and other anti-social  behaviours. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations  made  that  the counsellor should  develop good parenting  in various homes by given their children moral upbringing and checking what they go out and come in with.