This article reviews the origins and characteristics of the positive behavior support (PBS) movement and examines those features in the context of the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). We raise a number of concerns about PBS as an approach to delivery of behavioral services and its impact on how ABA is viewed by those in human services. We…

This learning module, which is intended for use in in-service training for vocational rehabilitation counselors, deals with methods of increasing client behaviors that do not occur often or fast enough. The following topics are discussed: basic approaches to increasing the extent and frequency of desired behaviors; ways of changing environment;…

The paper considers improved instructional design for learning handicapped students including the development of a cooperative and supportive school organization, the creation of appropriate classroom management systems, and the employment of active teaching strategies. A supportive school organization requires a positive interpersonal climate,…

This paper provides students with a brief outline of behavioral principles and behavior change techniques, and describes various means of behavior change including operant conditioning. Methods discussed include reinforcement, extinction, punishment, response cost, time-out, overcorrection, training, and data collection for taking a baseline.…

This manual describes a systematic approach, behavioral prescripting, for dealing with student problem behaviors. Aspects of the behavioral prescripting process are described, including: (1) enlisting the support of parents and teachers; (2) deciding on the problem behaviors; (3) collecting baseline data; (4) building a reinforcement schedule; (5)…

A 13-year-old deaf-blind boy who exhibited disruptive problem behaviors during mobility training sessions was successfully treated in a program that incorporated contingent reinforcement for reduced rates of responding. A 1-year follow-up assessment revealed continued behavioral improvement. (Author/JDD)

Examines the application of group level behavior modification techniques to a group of ten fifth-and sixth-grade antisocial children, and discusses the success of efforts to increase the incidence of prosocial behavior and decrease nonsocial and antisocial behavior. Describes an assessment procedure for behavioral measurement. (MS)

Parents were equally effective in modifying their childrens' negative behaviors regardless of method: individual in-home; individual in-office; or group in-office. Although operations costs favored group delivery, the more comprehensive opportunity and client costs favored individual in-home delivery. (CP)

Describes a partnership between Zoo Atlanta and the Georgia Institute of Technology in teaching the principles of operant conditioning to students in an experimental psychology class. Maintains that the positive training techniques used in zoos are models of applied operant conditioning. Includes a discussion of zoo training goals. (MJP)

The study undertook to teach and fix the reading of meaningful symbols (hiragana, the Japanese syllabary alphabet, and kanji, Chinese characters) to a mildly retarded 7 year old Japanese boy. The phonological method was used to teach hiragana and pictures were used to teach kanji. Behavior modification using reinforcement and time out was…

In an effort to reduce social isolation, procedures which included modeling, behavioral rehearsal, feedback, and reinforcement were used to train four elderly nursing home residents in four conversational areas: expressing common courtesies; making positive self-disclosures; asking questions; and making interjections and acknowledgments. Results…

This booklet was developed to help in the design and implementation of self-management systems for elementary-classroom students with developmental disabilities. Self-management components addressed in the booklet are self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self-reinforcement. Chapters provide: (1) the definitions and rationale for teaching…

This training manual, designed for teaching parents of young children with autism, contains nine modules on behavior modification techniques. The modules address: (1) the ABC's of behavior, which discusses discriminating among words that describe feelings and words that describe behaviors, identifying examples of learned behavior, and defining and…

This self-study training manual for parents of children with autism contains nine modules on behavior modification techniques. The modules address: (1) the ABC's of behavior, which discusses discriminating among words that describe feelings and words that describe behaviors, identifying examples of learned behavior, and defining and identifying…

The study investigated the effects of interspersing known items during spelling instruction on new words for three moderately to severely mentally retarded male students (ages 19 to 24). Results showed that high density reinforcement did facilitate performance over baseline; however, interspersal training was superior to the other conditions in…