A group outcome study evaluated the effectiveness of four treatment procedures in reducing self-injurious behavior among 22 severely handicapped students (mean age 10.5 years). Contingent restraint was most effective in reducing behavior below baseline levels. (Author/CL)

Studies about depression in mentally retarded individuals are examined. The studies use case report or single case designs and measure the effects of drug therapy and behavior modification. The lack of research on this topic is noted, and future directions are suggested. (CL)

This paper addresses efforts to monitor and control the applications of behavioral technology in human services. A brief review of accountability from a behavioral perspective is followed by viewpoints on the rights of clients subject to behavioral interventions. Three state/provincial efforts at creating policy and guidelines are examined.…

The author replies to an earlier contention of D. Smith (EC 133 830) that seclusionary timeout for behavior disordered children actually constitutes extinction rather than aversive control. The author cites methodological flaws in Smith's studies. (CL)

Evaluated effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a behavioral self-help manual for weight reduction through the use of 126 community subjects. Results at posttreatment and three-, six-, and sixteen-month follow-ups supported the behavioral manual's effectiveness in producing modest weight loss. (Author)

Investigated were the effects of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) and response cost (RC) on the attending behavior of a learning disabled (LD) 7-year-old and a behavior disordered 10-year-old. The differential effects of the DRO contingency in the two case studies were attributed to differences in the reinforcement schedules.…

The author presents a critique of twentieth-century behaviorism and humanism as educational theories. He argues that the techniques of both lead to unwarranted intervention in individual lives and ceaseless human engineering. (SK)

A token reinforcement program at a residential center operates on a point card system which measures daily work quality and attitude, academic involvement, self-maintenance, peer and adult interactions, and self-control in behavior disordered children. Issues in the program's administration, including unresponsiveness and use of daily feedback,…

Studied use of electromyographic (CMG) biofeedback to increase efficacy of cue-controlled relaxation training in treatment of test anxiety. Results indicated cue-controlled relaxation was effective in increasing test performance for test-anxious subjects. EMG biofeedback did not contribute to effectiveness. Self-report measures of anxiety are…

A package treatment program to reduce cigarette smoking was compared to a single treatment condition. Following treatment and posttesting, booster sessions were introduced. The package condition produced higher abstinence rates and lower percentages of baseline smoking after six months than other treatment conditions. Booster sessions had no…

The author reviews three topics featured in his first Behavior Modification column: pupil management, social validation, and nondiscriminatory testing. Two new topics are also discussed: data and decisions, and program evaluation. (Author)

The Student Management through Incentives concept can help to establish a system of discipline that is both positive and preventive. A gradient of student privileges allows for individual differences and a student log card system provides for student monitoring and offers students with inappropriate behavior a way to redeem themselves. (Author/WD)

Stress management training can be a cost effective way to improve productivity and job performance. Among many relaxation techniques, the most effective in terms of teachability, participant motivation, and profitability are self-hypnosis, progressive relaxation, and transcendental meditation. (SK)

The authors describe a remedial technique for teaching letter formation to students with handwriting difficulties. The approach blends traditional procedures (modeling, physical prompts, tracing, self correction, etc.) with cognitive behavior modification principles. (CL)

The practice of behavior modification in a residential treatment center for 60 emotionally disturbed children (6 to 14 years old) is described, based on the authors' observations over 18 months. Particular attention is given to the influence of context and situation as staff members count units of behavior, report their findings, and meet with…