Specific points of question and concern are presented in response to Stephen Fawcett's paper on community research and action values (EC 602 711). These include who decides on community intervention priorities? who should be the target of preventive interventions? and what about problems that cannot be solved with local resources? (JDD)

Three individuals with multiple severe disabilities were taught an appropriate response to problem behaviors, but the response was less efficient than the problem behavior on physical effort, schedule of reinforcement, or stimulus-reinforcer time delay. The response did not compete successfully with the problem behaviors until a new, more…

This article reviews the origins and characteristics of the positive behavior support (PBS) movement and examines those features in the context of the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). We raise a number of concerns about PBS as an approach to delivery of behavioral services and its impact on how ABA is viewed by those in human services. We…

It is still debated what is the best early intervention approach for autism. This study compared two intervention approaches, Eclectic-Developmental (ED) and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) in very young children with autism/autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Nineteen children received ED intervention, using combination of methods. Twenty children…

This manual provides guidelines to educators attempting to comply with California's Hughes Bill, which is intended to ensure the rights of special education students to have positive behavioral intervention plans designed to bring lasting behavioral changes without interventions that cause pain or trauma. An introductory chapter summarizes the…

This guide shows how principles of functional assessment can be applied to behavior problems of students with mental retardation to identify the behavior's purposes and plan for more effective intervention in classrooms, supported living settings, and work settings. It shows how to conduct a functional assessment and link assessment results to…

This paper provides students with a brief outline of behavioral principles and behavior change techniques, and describes various means of behavior change including operant conditioning. Methods discussed include reinforcement, extinction, punishment, response cost, time-out, overcorrection, training, and data collection for taking a baseline.…

Four papers address issues related to behavioral training approaches to help mentally retarded persons secure competitive employment. In the first, a combination of role-playing, modeling, and response feedback was systematically applied to accelerate appropriate responses of a 33-year old moderately retarded male to criticism, humor, and…

Examines the application of group level behavior modification techniques to a group of ten fifth-and sixth-grade antisocial children, and discusses the success of efforts to increase the incidence of prosocial behavior and decrease nonsocial and antisocial behavior. Describes an assessment procedure for behavioral measurement. (MS)

This study used an ABAB design to investigate the effectiveness of social stories as an intervention with five school children who were experiencing difficulties at school lunchtime related to independently entering the dining hall. Measurements of general behaviour using the Conners Teacher Rating Scale-Revised (CTRS-R:L): Long Version and social…

This paper describes a non-aversive behavior management approach called gentle teaching and details supportive techniques of the approach. Principles of gentle teaching are explained, including unconditional valuing of individuals (shown by verbal valuing, gestural valuing, and physical valuing); value reciprocation; and behavioral involvement…

The Multidimensional Behavior Rating Scale (MBRS) was constructed to assess symptoms of depression across seven modalities: behavior, affect, sensation, imagery, cognition, interpersonal relationship, and drugs. Subjects (N=33) were matched by level of depression on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory Depression Scale to either a…

Nine textbooks used in applied behavior analysis courses for future teachers of students with disabilities were examined to determine how concepts of positive behavioral support were treated. The study found that, although many of these concepts and practices were discussed in the texts, none promoted the approach as a holistic philosophy for…

Behavior analysis was implemented in a school for 38 children with multiple disabilities, following staff training. Results over two years showed educationally significant increases in trials taught, correct student trials, and objectives achieved. During followup, results indicated maintenance and social validity of the behavior analysis package.…

A socially valid behavior-change intervention is broadly defined to be directed to a problem of verifiable importance, be accepted and used appropriately by target groups, and reduce substantially the probability of the problem's occurrence in target populations. The definition is applied to a family-based program to prevent human immunodeficiency…