This article reviews evidence from basic and translational research with pigeons and humans suggesting that the persistence of operant behavior depends on the contingency between stimuli and reinforcers, and considers some implications for clinical interventions. (Contains 4 figures.)

The guide presents information for parents, advocates, residential counselors, or retarded persons on the use of drugs in behavior modification. Reasons for concern over the use of drugs are noted, and general principles regarding such factors as individual differences in metabolism and reaction, dosage level, and changes over time are discussed.…

A twelve-year-old profoundly retarded, self-abusive and assaultive child who did not feed himself was motivated to feed himself and modify undesirable responses within eight days. (Authors)

Two punishment procedures were compared to determine their effectiveness in reducing rates of noncompliance in a class of 11 educable mentally retarded elementary school students. (Author/DLS)

Three experiments were conducted in a variety of settings to test the effectiveness of differential reinforcement of other behavior in reducing high rates of inappropriate behavior in 6 mildly and severely retarded children (8-14 years old). (Author/CL)

The present case study describes a toilet training program planned, developed, and implemented within a sheltered workshop. The client was a severely retarded woman for whom incontinence had been a life-long problem. The ease with which the program was carried out recommends its use with similar client problems. (Author)

Satiation, over-correction and differential reinforcement of other behavior resulted in the elimination of chronic clothes ripping by six institutionalized mentally retarded emotionally disturbed adolescents. (CL)

Research on overcorrection (for use with the mentally handicapped, schizophrenic, and autistic) is reviewed, and two types of overcorrection, restitutional and positive-practice, are described. (BD)

Presented are nine short papers concerning teacher role in effecting behavioral modification in the mentally handicapped student. The paper on functional analysis of behavior discusses use of reinforcers, changing reinforcer strength, reinforcement schedules, and discriminative stimuli. A continuation paper on functional analysis of behavior…