Three punishment procedures--contingent applications of water mist, lemon juice, and vinegar--were evaluated as aversive treatment methods for a self-stimulatory behavior exhibited by a severely retarded 11-year-old male. The water mist procedure was as effective as lemon juice or vinegar, presented less physical threat to the client, and was…

Three formerly institutionalized adults increased their rate of appropriate food serving when cash reinforcement was made contingent on their meeting specified daily criteria. Instructions and self-monitoring and praise had little or no effect on the men's diets. (CL)

A six-year-old with severe conduct disorders and learning delays increased task accuracy and on-task performance and decreased his disruptions after a reinforcement contingency was instituted. Eventually the child assumed responsibility for grading all tasks independently, maintaining high task accuracy. (CL)

Response-contingent learning capabilities of six profoundly retarded, multiply handicapped infants were examined using an operant conditioning paradigm. Results showed that infants learned criterion behavior although conditioning latencies were likely to occur when the children were required to produce free-operant responding. Findings are…

Using prompting and reinforcement procedures, five severely retarded individuals were trained and employed as client care workers to provide verbal and physical interaction and leisure materials to nonambulatory, multiply=handicapped residents of a mental retardation facility. Levels of interaction equalled or exceeded those displayed by exemplary…