In the light of research by Epstein (1979) (which reported that error of measurement in the analysis of behavior stability may be reduced by examining the behavior of aggregate stability coefficients computed for measurements with known stability characteristics), this study examines stability coefficients for computer-generated data sets…

The study evaluated the usefulness of 48 hours of Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy (REST) as a treatment for eight autistic children (between 5 and 11 years old). Ss were placed in a dimly lit room which contained only a mattress, told to ask for toilet facilities when needed, and then left alone except for when meals were brought in.…

Part of a continuing study of cross-gender identified (gender-referred) children is described. The entire study compares gender-referred children (14 boys and 4 girls) with their pre-adolescent siblings and with other children displaying a variety of psychiatric problems. The first phase of the study involves retesting the gender-referred children…

Reward contingencies and other extrinsic constraints on behavior can lead to reduced levels of interest in and/or decreased engagement in a target activity in a subsequent noncontingent situation. It has been hypothesized that this effect is caused by a change in the self-perceived locus of motivation from intrinsic to extrinsic. It follows from…

This paper addresses some of the practical ways by which students can be given information about the adequacy of their responding. The author views this information as all that is frequently necessary to alter an inappropriate behavior. Thus, he considers feedback to be the first step in most behavior management programs. Studies to determine how…

Since the first case was identified in 1981, Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become the number one health concern across the nation. Previous research has shown that AIDS has not had an effect on the sexual behavior of sexually active college students. This study sought to further study the impact of AIDS on the sexual behavior of…

In contrast to the usual counseling outcome assessment procedures, which rely on individual change scores on selected outcome instruments, this paper proposes a contemporary interactional perspective which suggests that the assessment of outcome should focus on determining changes in the counseling process itself, i.e., a change in the interaction…

The relative efficacy of systematic desensitization and assertive skill training in increasing assertive responses, reducing anxiety related to being assertive, and increasing response satisfaction, was compared to two control conditions--a placebo-control (discussion) and an assessment-control. Also investigated was the effect of the subjects'…

A mini-course was devised to aid physical education majors in modifying personal problem behaviors that could directly or indirectly have an impact on their teacher behavior. Relevant readings on the topics of behavior control and self-modification were provided. The subjects designed self-modification projects that involved the self-application…

The role of environmental stimuli in the control of cigarette smoking has been the object of theoretical speculation, but there have been few experimental demonstrations of the control exerted over smoking by environmental events. Self-report data on smoking in the natural environment were compared to observations made of smoking among subjects…

Data from a national survey were used to test a model representing the dynamics of newspaper reading behaviors. It was hypothesized that three types of constraints (structural constraints, transitional constraints, and self-constraints) would be present to various degrees in four types of newspaper readers: regular readers, regular nonreaders,…

Self-management procedures constitute a special case of intensive or N=1 research design methodology. In using self-management procedures, an individual becomes a personal scientist, investigating and altering his own behavior. Five broad self-management strategies are discussed. Self-observation involves precise monitoring of one's behavior.…

This paper argues that human agency as a causal factor in behavior must be considered in any model of behavior and behavior disorders. Since human agency is historically tied to the issue of consciousness, to argue that consciousness plays a causal role in behavior requires a plausible explanation of consciousness. This paper proposes that…

Researchers are now attempting to improve techniques for studying stable behavior patterns in family systems over long periods of time, e.g., the marital dyad across several levels of function and dysfunction covering time periods of months to years. One approach to improving this research design is based on the assumptions that longitudinal…

To see if mother-child conflict and mother firmness in conflict situations could be predicted from previous measures of the level of young children's attempt to influence their mothers, a study was conducted among 27 boys and 25 girls who were observed at 33 and 45 months of age. Information about the 33-month-old children's influence attempts…