In this study, two hypotheses were tested: (1) Self-report data are unrelated to behavior change; (2) Exposure to competent models of open and helpful behavior increases this skill performance in an encounter group. Two encounter groups were conducted with 18 college students who had the incentive to become more open, honest, and helpful. One…

Although past experience may operate to produce an initial increase in undesired behaviors during behavior modification procedures, the data of the present study demonstrate that these behaviors will decrease if the model is not abandoned at the point when the behavior appears to be getting worse rather than better. (Authors)

Major findings were that: contingent reinforcement was effective in altering behavior; instructions did not augment the efficacy of contingent reinforcement; noncontingent reinforcement was effective for nondeviant students who were told that the reinforcement was actually contingent; and contingent reinforcement led to greater generalization than…

Three experiments were conducted in which a school principal implemented behavior modification programs with elementary school children. The behaviors dealt with were tardiness, absenteeism, and disruptions. (Author)

Prediction was not supported that responses followed by positive or negative social consequences would immediately be repeated or changed, respectively. (Author/MB)

Modeling was shown to be a more rapid modification procedure than was shaping, and the interaction levels produced through modeling, with or without the addition of shaping, were more stable over time. (Authors)

Incorporating statistical process control (SPC) methods into applied behavior analysis is discussed. It is claimed that SPC methods would likely reduce applied behavior analysts' intimate contacts with problems and would likely yield poor treatment and research decisions. Cases and data presented by Pfadt and Wheeler (1995) are cited as examples.…

DURING THE PERIOD 1930 TO 1938, THE PATTERNS OF BEHAVIOR OF A BASIC SAMPLE OF 138 THREE TO FOUR AND ONE-HALF YEAR-OLD CHILDREN WERE OBTAINED BY TEACHER RATINGS. THE TEACHERS USED A RATING CHART OF 61 BEHAVIOR VARIABLES. TEN BEHAVIOR PATTERNS WERE ISOLATED FROM THIS GROUP. EACH PATTERN, FOR EXAMPLE, EMOTIONAL REACTIVITY, WAS COMPRISED OF SEVERAL…

A methodology for the assessment and prediction of recidivism in terms of degree or extent of environmental deprivation or support is presented. The Environmental Deprivation Scale (EDS) was employed as an objective means of assessing environmental circumstances in a group of recidivists as contrasted with non-recidivists. The EDS consists of a…

Several indices of factorial consistency were applied to a biographical inventory administered to a longitudinal sample of 2070 students in the 7th, 9th, and 11th grades. Results were compared with those of a prior cross-sectional study at the same grade levels. Comparisons of dimensional change over the three grades, for the cross-sectional and…

This study is intended to assess the changing lifestyles, values, and preferences of American youth on a continuing basis. Each year since 1975, about 17,000 seniors have participated in the survey, which is conducted in about 130 high schools nationwide. In addition, subsamples of seniors from previously participating classes receive follow-up…

This paper is a companion to the book, "Smoking, Drinking, and Drug Use in Young Adulthood: The Impacts of New Freedoms and New Responsibilities," by Bachman, Wadsworth, O'Malley, Johnston, and Schulenberg (1997). The book attempts to disentangle the effects of post-high school roles on drug use by conducting a variety of analyses on…

This book focuses on transitions into young adulthood by examining key roles and experiences of young adults and how they relate to changes in drug use. The findings are based on the nationwide Monitoring the Future project, and represent the majority of individuals who entered young adulthood in the United States during the years 1976 through…

This paper presents information from the ongoing research program, Monitoring the Future. The program is designed to: (1) monitor drug use and potential explanatory factors among American secondary school students, and other young adults; (2) distinguish which of three different kinds of change--maturational, historical, and/or cohort are…