Restructuring an existing token economy (TE) in a psychiatric facility for children led to increased point-earning and decreased daily trips to seclusion. Restructuring occurred through operationalization of target behaviors and reduction of time between receipt of reinforcers and opportunity to exchange tokens. Results suggest changes in basic…

Existing research has shown that when parents and teachers work together, everyone benefits; students tend to earn higher grades, perform better on tests, attend school more regularly, have better behavior, and show more positive attitudes toward themselves and toward school (Canter, 2004). This study builds upon these findings by examining the…

The Preferred Items and Experiences Questionnaire (PIEQ) is a new instrument to assess reinforcer preferences in adolescents and adults. Research was conducted with college and high school students to develop the PIEQ, to examine its reliability with test-retest and internal consistency methods, and to test its validity. This research provides…

We recently reported that fear extinction, a form of inhibitory learning, is selectively blocked by systemic administration of L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (LVGCC) antagonists, including nifedipine, in mice. We here replicate this finding and examine three reduced contingency effects after vehicle or nifedipine (40 mg/kg) administration.…

Previous research implies that stereotypic behavior tends to be maintained by the sensory consequences produced by engaging in the response. Few investigations, however, have focused on vocal stereotypy. The current study examined the noncommunicative vocalizations of 4 children with an autism spectrum disorder. First, functional analyses were…

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,…

Intended for direct care workers at institutions for severely and profoundly retarded persons, the curriculum focuses on behavior modification skill instruction. Eight lesson plans are presented, with information on topic, content, and teaching methods. Topics include the following (sample subtopics in parentheses): 1) introduction; 2) observing…

The manual describes approaches the teacher or therapist can use to motivate handicapped students. Chapter 1 considers motivation in terms of the consequences of an action, contingency awareness, and types of motivating conditions. A second chapter offers guidelines for identifying potential reinforcers and discusses examples of motivating…

This paper describes a social-learning approach to counseling as it is developed at Valley View School for Boys, Illinois Department of Corrections. (Author/SM)

This paper presents a review of relevant literature on treatment approaches for the modification of smoking behavior, followed by an outline of an approach developed by the author to decrease his own rate of cigarette smoking. Studies are reviewed which have used various treatment methods: use of electric shock, satiation and/or use of cigarette…

The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it evaluates the effectiveness of token economy programs in increasing academic performance in a bilingual education classroom setting. Second, it attempts to train the teacher in the basic behavior modification principles and assist her/him in the delivery of appropriate and consistent reinforcement…

Summaries of arguments given in the literature both for and against the use of verbal-traditional psychotherapy with mentally retarded individuals is presented. Much research examines process variables in therapy as an approach. Feedback variables are crucial. Results of a research study in which therapy groups composed of mentally retarded adults…

The effectiveness of four operant procedures (differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior, omission training, overcorrection, and reinforcement withdrawal) in changing self injurious behavior (SIB) of 16 severely handicapped students was examined. Analysis of correlations between reduction in SIB and subject characteristics, adaptive…

Previous research has shown that certain counseling methods, unlike behavioral counseling procedures, have been unsuccessful in improving the sociometric status of unpopular and uncooperative elementary students. This study attempted to assess the effectiveness of behavioral counseling. Forty elementary students were identified as unpopular and…

A training procedure that appears to facilitate both empathic understanding and selective response to client statements is one built around the training of Zen Buddhist monks. Subjects trained in Zen techniques of external and internal concentration were found to increase their ability in these two counseling behaviors. (Author/LA)