Recent mandates related to the implementation of evidence-based practices for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) require that autism professionals both understand and are able to implement practices based on the science of applied behavior analysis (ABA). The use of the term "applied behavior analysis" and its related concepts…

Examined the effects of two time-out (TO) procedures (within-room and out-of-room), on compliance and oppositional behavior. A total of 24 5-year-olds and their mothers were observed in three experimental conditions, pretraining, training, posttraining. Both out-of-room and within-room TO reduced oppositional behavior and increased compliance.…

The study showed that the experimental subjects made more correct responses, rated sessions positively, manifested a greater number of desired study behaviors, and increased their rate of responding and study behaviors, than the control subjects. (Author/BP)

This study investigated whether infants who were given increased amounts of response-contingent stimulation would evidence positive and nonspecific transfer of learning to situations requiring new responses to control environmental events. Subjects were thirty 3-month-old biologically normal home-reared infants. Infants in the group assigned to a…

Contingency contracting has been demonstrated to be an effective procedure for achieving weight loss. A problem with this type of contract is that the S may have to permanently forfeit an item for a failure to lose weight when in fact his/her eating behavior has been appropriate. The following procedure was developed to overcome this problem. A…

Until recently, the use of contingency contracting has been largely an issue of theory and discussion with little experimental research evidence gathered to support efficacy. Two major reasons for this problem are suggested and discussed: (1) the concept of contingency contracting has not been adequately defined nor its minimal requirements…

This study compared systematic desensitization and two pseudotherapy manipulations with and without false galvanic skin response feedback after every session suggesting improvement in the modification of intense snake and spider fear. The results indicated no consistent differences between the three treatment groups. (Author)

Two experiments were performed in the naturalistic setting of a preschool classroom in order to assess the effects on children's social behavior of nonevaluative teacher attention to the children's cooperative or aggressive speech. (Author/JMB)

Underweight subjects were assigned to either a self-reinforcement condition, a self-punishment condition, or to a discussion/reflection control condition. The subjects received one treatment session per week over a five-week period. After treatment, the self-reinforcement groups gained significantly more pounds (kilograms) than either of the other…

Eight disruptive children attended an after school reading tutorial program one hour a day for 72 days. After baseline, the children evaluated their academic and social behavior. A token program was instituted in which points and backup reinforcers were made contingent upon accurate self-ratings. This program was then gradually modified. (Author)

This is the participant's book for a teacher training program in behavior analysis, called Classroom and Instructional Management, and developed by the Central Midwestern Regional Educational Laboratory. Unit 1 introduces the field of behavior analysis. It contains examples of behaviors and provides solutions for changing the behavior. Unit 2…

Two adolescent boys with a history of rapidly increasing obesity participated in a behavioral weight reduction program. The multi-dimensional treatment package consisted of those behavioral techniques most often shown to be effective in treating obese adults (programed behavior management and stimulus control instructions, self monitoring of daily…

This monograph examines the component parts of behavior modification, initially defining the problem behavior and drawing a difference between specific observable behaviors (the focus of behavior modification), and the interest of Freudian and similar psychologies in unobservable internal processes. Instrumental learning related to shaping in…

Recently, behavioral researchers have extended the application of operant conditioning techniques from the behavior management of individual students to the behavior management of entire classes of students. This extension has been facilitated through the utilization of such contingencies as the interdependent group-oriented contingency. The…

Four profoundly retarded multiply handicapped children (with a mean age of 12 years) were placed in a situation where auditory stimulation was made contingent on a visually directed lever-pulling response. (Author/MH)