Paper examines impact of a six-month social norms marketing intervention designed to reduce alcohol use among students attending a small, private university. Results indicate that little change in student alcohol use or perception of drinking norms occurred following the intervention. Gender effect was noted in the analysis with female students…

Legal mandate and limited resources provide an impetus to increase the utility of functional assessment. The goal of this study was to develop a brief assessment that could be conducted in the natural setting to identify naturally occurring, high-frequency subsequent events that may serve as maintaining consequences for disruptive behavior using…

The authors describe a process for measuring behaviors associated with 16 character values. Using the process described in the article, school officials and counselors can determine character values to target and can determine from scores generated by the instrument if their efforts have resulted in improved behaviors associated with the targeted…

Author responds to comments (EC 232 033-037) on his paper (EC 232 032) concerning use of aversive therapy or punishment with mentally retarded persons. Paper notes ideological connotations often implied in the term "punishment" and the lack of response to the distinction made in his paper between this and the functional relations…

Craighead, Craighead, Kazdin, and Mahoney's (1994) text is considered as representative of strengths and weaknesses in behavior therapy. Although the field has great resources and impressive accomplishments, it has the weaknesses of disunified science. Exemplifies strengths and weaknesses together with possible means of remedying the latter. (JPS)

Treatment of behavioral problems of 3 girls (ages 31-37 months) with Rett's disorder is discussed. Behavioral treatment using operant conditioning principles did little to alter the course of the disorder for these individuals. The one consistent improvement for the girls was a decrease in tantrums. (SW)

This paper describes a dentist-implemented intervention in which brief escape from dental treatment (contingent on brief periods of cooperative behavior) was provided to manage disruptive child behavior during restorative dental treatment with four children, aged three to seven years. The procedure required no more time than traditional management…

This paper comments on the controversy surrounding the use of gentle teaching and applied behavior analysis. Strengths of gentle teaching are noted, such as its wide focus and emphasis on mutual change between client and caregiver. Behavioral interpretations are offered for behavior change reported in the use of gentle teaching procedures. (JDD)

Focuses on techniques with proven effectiveness in controlling misbehavior in both public schools and correctional institutions. Highlights three ways to handle misbehavior: (1) preventive planning; (2) anticipatory response; and (3) systematic interventions. Emphasizes preventive planning techniques. (Author/JOW)

The Program for Academic Survival Skills (PASS) was adapted for use by secondary-level regular and special education students by incorporating a radio/tape player with a clocklight instrument which signaled when students were following classroom rules. Through use of precise classroom rules, instructive praise, corrective teaching, and rewards,…

Presented residents of life care community and nursing homes with scenarios of older woman. Client varied by cognitive capacity and behavior problem (aggression, verbal abuse, noncompliance). Participants rated three treatments: differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI), time-out, and haloperidol. All treatments were acceptable;…

This article provides a use plan for instituting and maintaining a successful chore and allowance program for children. Specific guidelines are outlined regarding how to teach children basic money management skills. Explicit examples are offered for teaching these skills that can be easily adopted by parents and clinicians who specialize in…

In this paper, we review definitional issues related to stereotypy, behavioral interpretations of stereotypy, procedures for determining operant function(s) of stereotypy, and behavioral interventions for stereotypy. In general, a preponderance of the assessment literature suggests that most forms of stereotypy are maintained by automatic…

Over the past 30 years, research in the area of applied behaviour analysis has led to a rich knowledge and understanding of the variables that influence human behaviour. This understanding and knowledge has given rise to a range of assessment and intervention techniques that have been applied to individuals with challenging behaviour.…

The consumption of nonfood items (i. e., pica) frequently occurs in persons with developmental disabilities. Pica may result in the puncture or blockage of the digestive tract, infestation by gastrointestinal parasites, and can interfere with an individuals daily learning, occupational performance, and quality of life. Twenty-six published studies…