[Question and Answer contributed by Dr. Ogden Lindsley, October 2000.] No. You do not need to chart for a week or two before you try a reward or penalty. The slope of our standard chart tells how much what you are doing is working, and will predict when you will reach aim. Of course, about one third of the time self counting and charting alone produce the results you want. So, you don't always need to change anything else.