A multiple probe design across activities was implemented with a 32-year-old with severe developmental disabilities to teach him to request assistance to gain release from nonpreferred difficult activities. Generalization occurred to other tasks associated with escape. No generalization occurred in tasks that the learner engaged in challenging…

Results of a functional analysis indicated the self-injurious behavior (SIB) of a 12-year-old with severe mental retardation was maintained by escape from demands and access to listening to music. The effects of the presence and absence of music and a putative establishing operation were investigated. The presence of music was correlated with…

Although functional behavioral assessments (FBA) have long been considered "best practice" in the field of applied behavior analysis, their use by school psychologists has a much briefer history. To assist school psychologists in becoming better acquainted with FBA, this article overviews the conceptual foundations and underlying principles of FBA…

Analysis of 117 research articles reporting use of behavioral interventions with single subjects with autism concluded that behavioral treatments are effective in reducing problematic behaviors. Type of target behavior and type of treatment did not moderate average treatment effect. Reliability of observation, number of treatment data points, and…

A study examined whether a correlation existed between mood ratings and subsequent display of problem behavior in eight adults with mental retardation. Results indicated that bad mood ratings were highly predictive of problem behavior. When an induction procedure to improve mood ratings was implemented, dramatic decreases in problem behaviors…

A self-recording procedure to help three third grade behaviorally disordered students walk directly from regular to special education classes was evaluated. Students chose from an array of reinforcers for use when they had reached the classroom within a specified time. The intervention was effective in increasing the number of days students walked…

This study examined effects of restitution on object throwing behavior of an adolescent male with severe mental retardation. Restitution was shown to maintain throwing behavior. When the subject was not forced to pick up what he threw (no restitution), throwing dropped to zero and was maintained at a very low rate. (Author/PB)

Fourteen students, aged 7-24, with severe developmental disabilities who exhibited frequent aggression, self-injury, and/or tantrums were assessed to engage in problem behavior maintained by social attention or by escape from unpleasant situations. The differential effectiveness of praise and time-out was measured, indicating the importance of…

A survey of 55 Louisiana members of the American Association on Mental Retardation (AAMR) indicated disagreement with an AAMR position statement condemning inhumane forms of aversive therapy. AAMR is urged to reconsider its position concerning the scope of aversive therapy, need for further research, and use of aversive therapy with some…

This study examined the effects of blocking self-injurious behavior on the self-restraint of a 19-year-old male with severe mental retardation. Consistent with the negative reinforcement hypothesis, blocking SIB resulted in near-zero levels of SIB and moderate reductions in self-restraint. (Author/DB)

This study examined effects of providing attention (the presumed reinforcer) both noncontingently and contingent upon either self-injurious behavior or self-restraint with a 12-year-old female with multiple disabilities including profound mental retardation. Results were consistent with the hypothesis that both responses were maintained by…

Describes the evolution of Harper Alternative School, which serves disruptive, volatile, and seriously emotionally disturbed students who could not be managed within regular schools in Houston, TX. Through a process of constant change and refinement to meet students' needs, the school has developed a model that is successful in serving even the…

This article discusses using a group contingency as a technique to increase appropriate behavior and decrease inappropriate behavior of students with learning disabilities who are either in regular classrooms or special classes. The advantages and disadvantages of three types of group contingencies (dependent group contingency, independent group…

In one experiment and two case studies, peer tutors were used in a program with disabled students exhibiting aberrant behaviors in the classroom. Peer tutors received training on how to provide appropriate commands and specific praise statements, as well as to decrease negative statements. Results indicated that trained peer tutors were able to…

Individuals (n=55) with mild to moderate mental retardation rated the acceptability of differential reinforcement and time-out. Community-based subjects and institutionalized subjects differed in their ratings depending on the severity of the problem. (DB)