Evaluated were the effects of symbol versus speech training instruction on the behavior of four autistic children (8-9 years old). Following observation of their classroom and free play behavior, Ss participated in a training sequence involving Peabody Rebus Reading symbols and more traditional speech training procedures. Ss' inappropriate…

Artificial data were used to assess the correlation between several estimates of average student change in various schools and the "true" impact of those schools. Results indicate that all estimates involving pretest-posttest differences measure school impact with reasonable accuracy. It is important to measure change over the entire…

The effectiveness of the Dental Hygiene Education Program in changing the dental health care practices of 4-H club youth in four Louisiana parishes and youth knowledge of dental care principles were studied in this before-after experimental design. The study sample consisted of 258 youth from 10 4-H clubs. Subjects completed a four-item…

The semiannual report describes activities of an interdisciplinary program for 6- to 12-year-old children with behavior problems. Chapters are devoted to data on the four objectives of the project: to discover ongoing behaviors that may lead to future antisocial behavior and result in a maladaptive life style, to develop a comprehensive treatment…

Investigated was the effect of MACOS (Man: A Course of Study) on children's behavior. Conclusions included: (1) the study of a culture did not lead to more open attitudes toward culturally determined behavior; (2) the students' sex did not influence their attitudes about different cultural behaviors. (NQ)

Details theoretical standpoint, procedures, and instruments used to evaluate school-based substance abuse prevention in New York City. Discusses outcome measures and argues that the process by which the outcome behavioral change was achieved must be explored before the outcomes are certified as beneficial and appropriate for an educational…

Examined the rating behavior of Black and White judges within the context of a social skills training program for patients (N=12) diagnosed as schizophrenic. Results indicated that Black and White judges may rate various social behaviors differently. (LLL)

The benefits of infant intervention programs depend on their appropriateness to the characteristics of the baby, the environment, and the transactions between them. For healthy, normal infants, intervention will be superfluous at best. A basic prerequisite for designing any intervention program is an understanding of the fundamental importance of…

Examined the effects of a psychoeducational program on employability enhancement of 23 rehabilitation clients. The program had a significant, positive impact on clients' thinking, feeling, acting, and vocational outcome and reduced task-interfering beliefs, thoughts, emotions, and problem behavior. Participants had a lower vocational training…

Examines groups of conduct-disordered and normal children in order to (1) test the potential usefulness of observational techniques in assessing therapeutic outcomes and (2) identify possible differences between deviant children and normal peers in aggressive and prosocial behavior. (RH)

This study develops estimates of the efficacy of school nutrition programs in improving a broad range of dietary outcomes by comparing the nutritional status of students and their families during the school year with the status when school is out. The study finds evidence that children who have a School Breakfast Program (SBP) available consume a…

For more than a decade, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) has supported demonstration programs designed to identify interventions that work with high-risk populations to prevent substance abuse, delay its onset, and reduce substance abuse-related behaviors. Research now…

A meta-analysis including nine samples of mothers in home visiting programs (N=1,600) examined differences in the effects of home visitor programs on maternal behavior. Although effect sizes varied, programs with more frequent visitation had higher success rates. This dosage effect explained all of the variance in effect sizes. Other significant…