Critical analysis is a legitimate aspect of scientific development. Examination of the limitations of behavioristic theory in its passage to therapeutic practice and the nonexplicit supplementary mechanisms inherent in the latter generates several such propositions, four are presented. (Author/CG)

Four profoundly mentally retarded middle-aged female residents in a state institution Behavior Problems Program were trained through the use of an interdependent group-oriented contingency procedure to sit and later to work on prevocational tasks. (Author)

This study of four children (ages 4-5) with emotional and behavioral disorders demonstrated that high-probability requests delivered in a variant sequence were more effective than those delivered in an invariant sequence. Children were able to act as change agents by delivering the high-probability sequences. (Author/CR)

Functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) were used to develop and implement behavior support plans for three middle school students who were not successful under a check-in, check-out system. Following implementation of function-based support, each participant demonstrated both reduced level of problem behavior and reduced variability in problem…

Teachers used a nonexclusionary time-out package emphasizing ongoing participation to treat inappropriate social behaviors in 4 classrooms of roughly 16 preschool children each. Behavior improved in terms of several measures including direct observation. Opinions of treatment acceptability from a survey of 210 lay people were also found to support…

Argues that behavioral approaches in education are best placed within a rational or justificatory framework, rather than within a strictly scientific account of human activity. Draws the distinction between the two frameworks, and outlines major criticisms leveled at behaviorism in education. Discusses aspects of behaviorism in education from the…

A functional analysis involving interviews and direct observation was used to analyze the multiple disruptive behaviors of a kindergarten student. An intervention that combined reinforcement and teacher-cued self-monitoring procedures was implemented using an A-B-A-B withdrawal design. The procedures produced a significant decrease in the…

Calls cognitive behavior therapy useful tool for changing negative behaviors of children. Presents some guidelines for those wishing to use cognitive behavior therapy with children. Suggests that teachers and others who work with students act confident, be kind but tough, learn to have successful confrontations, use rewards to replace punishments,…

Assertive discipline can help teachers develop more consistent and effective communication strategies for influencing student behavior. Over a nine-week period, two teachers using assertive discipline reduced the off-task and disruptive behavior of a male kindergarten student by defining behavioral limits and providing positive and negative…

Identifies essential features of behavior modification programs and applies them to children who have disabilities. Discussion and examples are organized around four steps of behavior modification: (1) define and measure the target behavior; (2) identify under what conditions the behavior occurs; (3) identify factors causing or maintaining the…

A functional analysis was conducted which showed that self-injurious behavior (SIB) of an adult with mental retardation occurred at differentially high rates when restraint materials access was contingent on behavior. An alone condition during the functional analysis showed SIB did not occur in the absence of restraint materials. Functional…

A study compared effects of continuous reinforcement (play) and alone conditions as controls during functional analyses for 66 individuals whose self-injurious behavior (SIB) was maintained by escape. SIB was lower during both control conditions than it was during the test (demand) condition. SIB was lowest during the alone condition. (Author/CR)

A study investigated the validity of the Questions about Behavioral Function, a checklist designed to assess antecedent behavior, using a sample of 398 persons with mental retardation and self-injurious behavior, aggression, or stereotypies. The checklist was used successfully to derive clear behavioral functions across all three target behaviors.…

A therapeutic board game was devised in order to generate discussion and to dispute irrational thinking in 10 children (age 10) with behavior problems. The pupils responded positively to rational-emotive behavior therapy, and teachers found that the cards used in the game provided a framework for discussion and self-help strategies. (Contains…

Examines whether a teacher's managerial statements could be assessed as sequences and if a scripting procedure could be used to modify these sequences while retaining the overall structure of teacher/student interactions. Results show that the scripted interaction sequence increased levels of appropriate play behavior among children (N=5). (RJM)