1. 3 Contingency Model
The 3-Contingency Model of
Performance Management
Checklist
Use this Checklist to evaluate an application of the 3-contingency model of performance management.
All Contingencies Performance-Management Theoretical Contingencies
 The Same Response Contingencies  Need for Theoretical
Test-  Effective Contingency Contingency Test- Is
Is the response the same Test- Is the change in the theoretical, direct-
in all three the size and probability acting contingency used
contingencies? of the outcome large only when the PM
Ineffective Natural enough to control contingency is indirect-
Contingencies behavior? acting, and not when the
 Natural Contingency  Planned Contingency PM contingency is
Test- Test- Is the contingency direct-acting?
Does the contingency added and planned?  Direct Acting Test- Is
exist prior to (Designed to manage the theoretical
performance performance) contingency direct-
management?  Analog to Avoidance acting?
 Ineffective Test- If the indirect-  Inferred Test- Is the
Contingency Test- acting contingency is to theoretical contingency
Is the change in the size increase or maintain inferred rather than
and probability of the performance, is it an observable?
outcome too small to analog to avoidance?  Linked to PM Test- Is
control behavior?  Analog to Punishment the theoretical
 Competing Test- If the indirect- contingency related to
the PM contingency and
ContingencyTest- acting contingency is to
decrease performance, is not to the ineffective
Is this a natural
it an analog to penalty or natural contingency?
competing contingency?
If so, then it is not the punishment?  Escape Contingency
ineffective natural  Deadlines for Analog Test- If the PM
contingency. to Avoidance Test- Is a contingency is to
deadline used only for increase or maintain
analogs to avoidance and performance, is the
not for analogs to theoretical contingency
punishment? an escape contingency?
 Explicit Deadline  Punishment
Test- Is the avoidance Contingency Test- If
deadline explicitly stated the PM contingency is
as part of the SD? designed to decrease
performance, is the
 Delayed Outcome
theoretical contingency a
Test- Is the delay of the punishment contingency?
outcome specified in the
before and after
condition?
Created by Judi Devoe, revised by Jacalyn S. Smeltzer (1998), by Jon Gauthier as part of his MA project in Summer
1998, and by Yvonne Heung on July 12, 1999, Dan Knittel Winter 2000, Alicia Wargowsky 2003, Nic Weatherly
2006.