This training manual is designed to prepare behavior assistants to teach parents and other family members how to use operant conditioning techniques to solve family problems with children. Readers are warned not to attempt to put the recommended procedures to actual use until the text is fully comprehended. Chapter I gives arguments to justify the…

The study evaluated a commonly used component of brief time-out, in which release from time-out is delayed contingent on the occurrence of the disruption. Data were collected for one normal and two mentally retarded children on time-out producing behaviors and delay-producing behaviors during time-out. (Author/CL)

Effects of an intervention and fading package (teacher prompting and contingent praise) on social initiations of three withdrawn preschool subjects were investigated. Among reported results was that abrupt removal of prompting resulted in similarly abrupt reductions in subjects' social initiations, whereas response-dependent fading maintained…

Four profoundly mentally retarded middle-aged female residents in a state institution Behavior Problems Program were trained through the use of an interdependent group-oriented contingency procedure to sit and later to work on prevocational tasks. (Author)

Wheelchair mobility training (contingent upon inappropriate stereotypic behavior) combined with social praise (contingent upon toy-play behavior) effectively reduced the inappropriate behavior of three nonambulatory, profoundly retarded Ss (14 and 15 years old) to near zero level. (Author)

A comprehensive validation study involving 50 regular primary classes was conducted of the Program for Academic Survival Skills (PASS), a consultant based, teacher mediated program for student classroom behavior. (Author)

This study assessed the efficacy of using obsessions as reinforcers contingent upon nonoccurrence of inappropriate behaviors in four children (ages five and six) with autism. The most effective treatment was providing the obsession plus mild reductive procedures (such as time out). Use of obsessions alone and use of food reinforcers with mild…

This case study of a 7-year-old general education student with behavior problems illustrates how school personnel can implement high quality consultative services. Evaluation of a behavioral intervention (contingency contracting) indicated a significant decrease in disruptive behavior from baseline. Positive treatment effects were maintained at…

This review defines contingency contracting and describes its theoretical basis, examines empirical studies using contingency contracts to improve various school-related behaviors, discusses potential advantages and problems, provides recommendations to assist school personnel in effectively using contingency contracts, and suggests areas in need…

Two functional communication training (FCT) conditions were compared to treat behavior problems of a child with mental retardation. The child was taught to emit a single FCT response to obtain one of six items or multiple FCT responses that specified the exact item. Only the FCT-multiple conditions reduced problem behavior. (Contains four…

A brief functional analysis indicated that the object mouthing of a young girl diagnosed with autism was maintained independent of social consequences. Separate and combined effects of response blocking and non-contingent reinforcement were then evaluated as treatments. Although both interventions were unsuccessful when implemented separately,…

With their origins in scientific validation, behavior-analytic applications have understandably been developed with an engineering rather than a crafting orientation. Nevertheless, traditions of craftsmanship can be instructive for devising aesthetically pleasing arrangements--arrangements that people will try, and having tried, will choose to…

We describe a training program to teach applied behavior analysis (ABA) knowledge competencies to paraprofessional staff (N = 47) at a habilitation services agency for adults with developmental disabilities. Before and following training, staff completed assessment of knowledge tests for three content areas: basic learning principles,…

Twelve papers by Iowa school psychologists reflect the profession's focus on assessment and intervention. The following titles and authors are presented: "What to Do When the Whole Swim Team Is Referred" (S. DeKrey); "An Alternative Technique for Reducing a Self-Injurious Behavior in a Profoundly Retarded Male Child" (G. Robinson); "Severe…