Previous studies have focused on whether a trial-based functional analysis (FA) yields the same outcomes as more traditional FAs, and whether interventions based on trial-based FAs can reduce socially maintained problem behavior. We included a full range of behavior functions and taught 3 teachers to conduct a trial-based FA with 3 boys with…

Students with intellectual disabilities can exhibit a wide array of challenging behaviors in the classroom that pose disruptions to the learning milieu and management problems for those involved in their education. Self-modeling, a behavioral intervention that involves viewing edited videotapes of oneself depicting exemplary behavior, has had…

Research has shown that variability may be an operant dimension of behavior. One method of reinforcing response variability is to use a lag schedule of reinforcement (Page & Neuringer, 1985). Several studies have shown that a Lag 1 schedule is effective in increasing variable responding with human participants (e.g., Esch, Esch, & Love, 2009; Lee,…

This study was conducted to examine the effects literacy-based behavioral interventions have on improving the behavior of students with intellectual disability. A second purpose of this study was to determine if literacy-based behavioral interventions could be an effective intervention strategy when used simultaneously with a group of students…

Anger resulting in Aggression can be a significant problem for some people with Intellectual Disabilities. Carers were asked to complete a provocation inventory and an attribution scale before and after a group cognitive behavioral intervention aimed for anger and at similar points in time for a waiting list control. When compared using an…

Background: This review describes procedures to reduce and eliminate physical restraint of people with intellectual disability. One approach is to assess antecedent conditions associated with restraint and change them so that they no longer produce restraint-provoking behaviour. A second approach is to decrease the duration of restraint by…

Background: Pica is a very dangerous form of self-injurious behaviour because one occurrence can be lethal. Dealing successfully with dangerous pica in a large institution requires a high level of administrative support. It cannot be relegated to each psychologist to write a programme. A written behaviour programme is only one component of…

Psychologists in a large institution for mentally retarded persons present their observations from a week of serving as direct care staff. They report on the effectiveness of such procedures as reducing the noise level, alleviating crowding, structuring activities, and persisting in correcting resident behavior. (CL)

One group (N=22) of community-based mentally retarded clients was initially on psychotropic medication. Their dosage was either increased, decreased, or kept the same following behavioral intervention. A second group (N=19) was placed on psychotropic medication following behavioral intervention. Results indicated that the behavioral-chemical…

The conceptual and methodological aspects of various systems of counseling and psychotherapy are evaluated in relation to characteristics of the mentally retarded. A behavioral approach to modification of problem behaviors is presented as an alternative to the range of counseling and psychotherapy approaches reviewed and considered ineffective and…

A survey of 190 public and community residential facilities indicate that staff in community and public residential facilities must be prepared to deal with maladaptive behavior, that behaviorally oriented response strategies appear to be most effective, and that there is a need for greater attention to training direct-care residential staff in…

Four supervisors working in a sheltered workshop for developmentally disabled adults participated in a behavior management program. Tests of durability of the altered behavior at three months and six months after completion of training showed that three supervisors had maintained low levels of attending to inappropriate trainee behaviors. (Author)

The conflict between viewing aversive therapeutic interventions with mentally retarded persons from either an ideological or scientific perspective is examined. It is concluded that some of those who reject aversive therapeutic interventions do so out of a poor understanding of behavioral science and a primarily ideological frame of reference.…

This paper comments on James Mulick's paper (EC 232 032) and views Mulick as rigidly committed to the behavioral paradigm, selectively evaluating data, and misrepresenting the opposition. Because aversive procedures are not wholly effective, positive, educative interventions are encouraged. (DB)

This paper reviews the rationale and behavioral interventions commonly used for teaching compliance to individuals with mental retardation and the role of ethics in the use of such interventions. The paper examines issues in deciding whether compliance is an appropriate objective for an individual and whether interventions designed to achieve…