施設保護兒童의 動機賦與에 관한 事例硏究

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze how the incentives may motivate the children protected by the children's welfare facilities. For this purpose, a case of the facility inducing children by using a coupon system to correct their bad behaviors was selected to be reviewed. The case facility located at 'M' dong in 'K' city is operated by a social welfare foundation. As of January 1, 2002, a total of 78 children aged between zero and 19 were living in the facility. As subjects for this study, 59 children (31 boys and 28 girls) who were attending elementary, middle and high schools were sampled to be subject to a survey conducted for 44 week from May 1, 2001 to March 3, 2002. The subject children were checked every month whether they attended the morning exercise, took breakfast or kept the basic life schedule. As a result of this survey, it was found that the coupon system had a positive effect on all the subject children although the effect was different depending on sexes, age groups and other demographic variables. The behavioral changes were more conspicuous as time went on. 8 months after the coupon system had been introduced, children's behaviors improved most. Although the female students did not keep the schedule of morning exercise, breakfast and in-facility order better than male students, their behaviors changed faster and wider than male students. Before the coupon system, female students had violated the order 20% more than male students, but 5 months after the coupon system, they kept the order better than male students. However, as they grew older, their behaviors changed less and slower. The younger a child was, his or her behaviors changed faster and wider, but there was no significant difference between middle and high school students. Since the children protected by the welfare facilities had a stronger desire for snacks, clothes or footwear than the ordinary children, their behaviors were positively affected by the coupon system. Namely, the desire for the coupons motivated them to change their behaviors in a positive way. In conclusion, it was found through this study that the coupon system or a monetary incentive motivated the children protected by the facility to correct their bad behaviors and lead a positive and desirable life. However, all the indices fell in the last month of this survey or February, 2002. It is not clear whether such a behavioral degeneration was attributable to the fact that the children were unstable just before they would advance to a higher educational institute or a new semester, or the possibility that the effects of the incentive system might have weakened because children's desires had been more or less met. It is hoped that such a point would be cleared by future studies.