This study was guided by a research question regarding the efficacy of the AlcoholEdu program in increasing the use of protective behaviors among incoming college freshman of different drinking risk groups. Specifically, the researcher sought to determine which drinker risk groups, if any, showed the greatest degree of willingness to change…

The efficacy of a multiple treatment smoking cessation program and three maintenance strategies was evaluated. Phases I and II of the study involved 51 subjects who participated in a five-day smoking cessation project consisting of lectures, demonstrations, practice exercises, negative smoking, and the teaching of self-control procedures. At the…

Health psychologists continue to have difficulty identifying prognostic indicators of weight loss success. Psychological, social, and demographic factors have been examined, but correlations with weight loss are disappointing. Actual behaviors or quantifications of specific actions and historical measures were examined for their validity in…

This study examined Toughlove, the controversial self-help organization for parents and out-of-control adolescents. Six small group Toughlove meetings containing an average of 8 members for each were observed, and questionnaires were completed by 75 Toughlove parents from 8 states. Variables examined include the roles of empathy, assertiveness…

In an urban/rural area with a high demand for children's services but limited resources, an outreach service using standardized treatment strategies was evaluated. The basic intervention strategies consisted of three elements: (1) establishment of specific goals; (2) use of Time-Out; and (3) use of praise and attention to increase desireable…

The paper describes Project ADVANCE, a Behavior Management System which addressed the behavioral adjustment, academic performance, and vocational development needs of 44 emotionally disturbed students (between the ages of 14 and 20) in Salem County, New Jersey. Section I provides an introduction with information on project goals, the significance…

A process study was conducted in two phases to measure the effects of whether a mother's participation in a Toughlove program improved her child's behavior. During phase 1, small-group Toughlove meetings were used for observation and then were tape-recorded and transcribed. Transcriptions were coded to identify instances of social support;…

Preliminary results of a study of the extent to which training health visitors in behavior modification techniques improves the effectiveness of their work with families of young children are presented. A total of 14 health visitors were recruited and assigned to training and delay-of-training groups. Selected from case loads, participating…

Commonality analysis was used as part of an evaluation of the Preparation through Responsive Educational Programs (PREP), a project based on behavior modification for disruptive, poorly achieving, and potentially delinquent urban junior high school students. The objectives of this study were to understand how the program affected certain academic…

Politicians, parents, and teachers are decrying the "character" crisis in U.S. schools. Violence is on the rise, dropout rates are increasing, and test scores are falling. People are looking for ways of enhancing values in school reform. What is missing in this quest for reform is the acknowledgment of the fact that key agents of…

The study examines the relationship between success upon leaving an alternative school program and immediate measures of program effect. The strength of the relationship was used to determine the degree to which the program effected its long term goals of preparing students for future academic or vocational success. Student success was defined as…

A high priority area for behavioral community psychologists involves working to strengthen informal support systems within communities. A collaborative effort between a community group and academic based psychologists focusses on a community problem--dog litter in an urban area. An original demonstration project was used to influence the political…

This report addresses three levels of questions about the effectiveness of the Michigan State University Multiple Risk Outreach Program (MROP). The MROP was designed to recruit families from this high-risk population and test the implementation of an intervention protocol in a population-based program for 3- to 6-year-olds and their families. This…

Describes the results of a long-term behavioral/nutritional weight loss program, Eating Slim (ES) involving 36 trained therapists and 696 of 1,040 subjects who completed the program. Treatment losses in ES are comparable to those from other studies demonstrating that trained home economists can use behavioral techniques. (DS)

The lack of rigorous evaluations and variations in operation of adolescent diversion programs has led to a state of confusion concerning the effects of diversion. In a program at Michigan State University, youths referred to the project from the juvenile court are randomly assigned to undergraduates who are trained and supervised by project…