INTENDED FOR SPEECH THERAPISTS, THEACHERS OF THE MENTALLY RETARDED, AND OTHERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE COLLECTION CONTAINS REPORTS BY VARIOUS AUTHORS ON SPEECH AND LANGUAGE MODIFICATION ATTEMPTS THAT HAVE UTILIZED OPERANT CONDITIONING PROCEDURES, AS WELL AS SEVERAL PAPERS ON BACKGROUND TOPICS. BACKGROUND PAPERS ON TEACHING TREAT ENVIRONMENTAL…

THE PROCESS OF INSTRUCTION WOULD BENEFIT FROM BEING ORGANIZED IN TERMS OF BEHAVIORAL PSYCHOLOGY. FIRST, THE PROCESS OF TASK ANALYSIS SHOULD DIVIDE THE FINAL OBJECTIVE INTO A SERIES OF SUBTOPICS OR RELATED TASKS. PERHAPS DIFFERENT TEACHING PROCEDURES WILL BE NEEDED TO MASTER DIFFERENT SUBTOPICS OF THE FINAL OBJECTIVE. SECOND, AN ASSESSMENT SHOULD…

The theory of and research on the application of operant procedures to the college classroom is reviewed. Practical limitations of these procedures and shortcomings of this research are discussed. Covered in this paper are: (1) theoretical foundations; (2) operant foundations in education; (3) research on programed instruction; (4) the…

This IRCD Bulletin issue contains two papers. One, by Harold L. Cohen, summarizes two of his previously prepared papers in which he discusses his approach to learning behaviors. He describes the use of reinforcements as motivators for academic and social learning at a Federal correctional institution. Cohen states that "The design and use of…

This discussion of programed instruction begins with the fundamental psychological aspects and learning theories behind this teaching method. Negative and positive reinforcement, conditioning, and their relationship to programed instruction are considered. Different types of programs, both linear and branching, are discussed; criticism of the…

A 4-year research project developed a preschool program for exceptional children unable to attend public school but not needing to be institutionalized on the basis of empirical behavioral principles. Children were referred from agencies and most had already unsuccessfully used special school services. The average age was 5-5 years, average IQ was…

The report describes a 3-year project which utilized the techniques of experimental psychology and the principles of operant conditioning to gain in the understanding and treatment of autistic and schizophrenic children. Included are discussions of the autistic child, the project itself, arbitrary and natural reinforcement, the setting and…