A multielement baseline design was used to analyze effects of token rewards delivered contingent upon completion of math problems by two middle-school boys. Time spent on math and amount of math completed increased during reward conditions and were maintained during fading and withdrawal. At follow-up, results were maintained for one boy but fell…

Discusses how schools and universities can save energy and money by evaluating lighting systems and changing behaviors. Retrofitting older buildings with better lighting technology and use of natural light are examined. An example of an energy conservation education program to reduce energy waste is highlighted. (GR)

Creativity is the ultimate therapeutic experience because it validates the creator's abilities and allows the risk taking that enables growth. An adventure therapy session involving a group of recovering adult substance abusers illustrates how creativity is used to organize the group, determine the group's needs, generate meaning, and translate…

Discusses how inconsistent nurturing as control theory asserts that because of competing goals of nurturing and controlling, partners of drug-dependent individuals will unintentionally encourage the very behavior they are trying to extinguish through inconsistent manifestations of reinforcement and punishment. Finds that partners of substance…

Describes the use of photographs showing students engaging in appropriate behavior to prompt students to manage their own classroom behavior more effectively. The article gives examples of appropriate photographs and explains how to teach students to use the prompts. Inserts list photography resources and suggest classroom uses for digital…

This evaluative review describes the history of applied behavior analysis in the area of developmental disability and its strengths and weaknesses. Emphasis is placed on the fact that behavior analysis can continue to provide valuable insights into the education and treatment of people with mental retardation. (Author/CR)

A cognitive treatment intervention was used with four men with learning disabilities who had been convicted of indecent exposure. Treatment dealt with the issues of accepting that the offense took place, taking responsibility, accepting the intention of the offending behavior, and victim awareness. All the men responded to treatment. (Author/CR)

A study examined the relationship between neutralizing routines and problem behavior in three adolescents with severe intellectual disabilities. Functional analyses found the problem behaviors were motivated by either escape or tangible items. Results found that neutralizing routines were effective in reducing self-injurious behavior and…

Discusses obstacles involved in the routine clinical practice for type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, a disease associated with serious complications and co-morbidity. States that educating patients to take an active role in their care by changing their diet and habits is a challenge to health care educators. Lists tools patients will need to learn to help…

This article surveys the past 35 years of social interaction research relating to autism. Ways in which understanding social deficits in autism has influenced attempts to analyze and ameliorate problem behaviors are discussed, and emerging concepts relating to social interaction are examined, including the importance of maintaining social…

A peer-mediated intervention was used to improve the social skills of 3 children with autism (ages 5 to 13). The intervention paired each child with a nondisabled peer who initiated interaction persistently within the autistic children's usual school setting. The autistic children demonstrated more frequent interactions and more positive and…

Evaluates a short-term residential program utilizing a behavior modification program in an outpatient unit for adolescents with mostly conduct problems. Evaluation indicated predictors of outcome, including: age, gender, diagnosis, length of stay, father's presence, other treatments received, and presence of learning problems. Factors such as…

The importance of discipline consistency in elementary school students (n=18) is examined by varying the probability of punishment and the nature of the discipline agent's response to manipulated transgressions. Discusses the importance of conceptualizing discipline consistency as a multivariate construct, and variables and parameters that…

Investigates the effectiveness of self-modeling as a treatment to increase on-task behavior. Results indicate immediate, substantial, and durable changes in students' on-task behavior that generalizes across academic settings. At 6- and 8-week follow-up, the students' percentages of on-task behavior were essentially indistinguishable from their…

A study examined the effects of naltrexone after acute treatment and the long-term effects of naltrexone on the self-injurious behavior (SIB) of 15 individuals with mental retardation. Results found that a subgroup of patients decreased SIB for a year without treatment after acute exposure to naltrexone. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)