In a study of visual discrimination tasks with three autistic children (ages five-six), multiple sensory reinforcers maintained responding over more trials than did multiple edible reinforcers. Single sensory reinforcers and single edibles however, resulted in nearly equal numbers of trials to satiation. Sensory reinforcers produced higher…

Two experiments involving six profoundly retarded Ss (3-18 years old) evaluated a formal method for identifying reinforcers. Results revealed that preferred stimulus conditions typically produced higher rates of responding than did either baseline or nonpreferred stimulus conditions, suggesting that the procedure can assess reinforcer value for Ss…

A 13-year-old who watched television excessively participated in a behavioral program featuring a token-actuated timer. Earned tokens activated the T.V. for 30-minute periods. The token-exchange system effectively reduced T.V. viewing and reductions were maintained at two followup points. (CL)

A review of the behavioral literature on self-injurious behavior reveals that few definitive conclusions can be made regarding etiology, maintenance, or treatment. Recent evidence suggests that more thorough assessments are required and that antecedent intervention may hold promise for treatment. (Author/CL)

Discusses the use of cognitive behavioral techniques (cognitive restructuring, rational emotive therapy, and anger management) among college faculty. Each was successfully used in a treatment program for faculty at North Texas State University which emphasized reducing unnecessary expressions of Type A behavior while remaining productive and…

Mechanical restraint and a contingent "stand-up" procedures were used to treat self-injurious behaviors (SIB) of a profoundly mentally retarded institutionalized adult. Treatment consisted of gradually increasing time out of restraint, providing reinforcement for not engaging in SIB, and a brief time-out/physical hold procedure contingent upon the…

Two developmentally disabled children were held in seated position during application of timeout procedure. For autistic-like girl procedure produced dramatic reduction in tantrums and aggressive behavior and for mentally retarded boy reduced aggression. For both, immobilization timeout proved more effective than reinforcement methods alone. (CMG)

Research on subtypes of learning disabilities (LD) is reviewed and the importance of targeting specific deficits in attending behavior, impulsivity, and hyperactivity is noted. A protocol for the behavioral assessment of LD is suggested, and examples of molar as well as molecular interventions are cited. (CL)

Results indicated that only significant reductions on test anxiety were obtained for groups given desensitization, but for groups given combinations of desensitization and counseling, improvement occurred in both test anxiety and study skills. (Author)

A rejoinder to 12 comments on article written by same author in same issue. (CJ)

Comments, by an advocate of behavioral techniques, on article by Ray E. Hosford in same issue. (CJ)

The study evaluated a participative management approach for increasing the frequency of interactions between institutional staff and 15 severely/profoundly retarded residents. Results indicated that during the participative management program there was an increase in staff interactions that were contingent on appropriate resident behavior.…

Two experiments, with about five autistic children (two to 14 years old) in each experiment, assessed the effects of autistic immediate echolalia on acquisition and generalization of receptive labeling tasks. These results indicated that echolalia faciliated generalization for echolalic autistic children but not for functionally mute autistic…

Four seven- to ten-year-old boys with autistic behavior were examined with behavioral and observational measures in a peer mediated training, an integrated generalization assessment, and a segregated generalization assessment setting. Results favored the developmentally integrated condition for increases of positive social behaviors. (Author/MC)