Proposes that the current problem behavior of students in elementary and middle schools requires a preventive, whole-school approach based on positive behavior support. The features of positive behavior support are defined, and the application to whole-school intervention articulated. The steps used to implement school-wide positive behavior…

Describes consultation to a public school district in the form of a systems-wide evaluation of instructional and behavior support practices for students with developmental disabilities. The format of the evaluative model, respective findings, suggested remedies, and implications for large-scale public school consultation are provided. (Contains 22…

Examines the efficacy of a comprehensive behavior management skills training program for improving certified nursing assistants' (CNAs) skill performance in the nursing home. Results reveal improvement in five out of seven communication skills. Although CNAs showed a reduction in the use of ineffective behavior management strategies, they did not…

Parent training is often used to treat non-compliance and social problems in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The current study directly examines changes in hyperactivity and inattentiveness in 3 girls whose parents participated in a parent training intervention. Findings suggest that parent training programs may narrowly focus on overt…

Evaluated cognitive, behavioral, and combined assertiveness treatments for dysfunctional job-interviewing skills. Cognitive treatment had no impact on any outcome variable. Some evidence favoring behavioral treatment appeared on cognitive assessment battery but not on behavioral battery, suggesting that cognitive improvements were not clearly…

This paper expresses support for the resolution of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps to prohibit aversion-based procedures. In response to Horner and others (EC 232 976), the paper agrees on the values expressed but disagrees on the science reported. (DB)

Investigated behavioral intervention to control child distress during invasive cancer treatment. Children (n=23) requiring physical restraint to complete venipuncture were alternately assigned to behavioral intervention or attention control condition. Observed child distress, parent-rated child distress, and parent ratings of own distress were…

Tested initial effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy for binge eating. Female nonpurging binge eaters (n=44) were randomized to treatment or control groups. At posttreatment, significant difference was found, with 79 percent of treatment subjects reporting abstinence from binge eating and 94 percent decrease in binge eating compared with…

Investigated whether effectiveness of behavioral marital therapy would be increased by addition of cognitive restructuring and/or emotional expressiveness training for maritally distressed couples. Results from 60 such couples randomly assigned to a variety of treatment combinations revealed that the addition of cognitive restructuring and…

Four autistic and severely handicapped children (ages 9-13) were taught to recruit or set the occasion for praise from an adult. After the structured instruction, the children used these behaviors in all generalization settings and were frequently successful in recruiting praise. (Author/DB)

The critical analysis of 23 studies using respondent techniques for the reduction of excessive emotional reactions in school children focuses on research design, dependent variables, independent variables, component analysis, and demonstrations of generalization and maintenance. Results indicate widespread methodological flaws that limit the…

Six four-year-olds were subjects in two experiments on correspondence training procedures with toy play behaviors. The experiments found that presence or absence of children's verbalizations exerted no influence on play with target toys, and that children were less likely to engage in target behaviors when no antecedent experimenter verbalization…

Examined relevance of depression to chronic pain. Found significant differences among 131 depressed, mildly depressed, and nondepressed chronic pain sufferers on instrumental activities and coping skills, with more depressed subjects reporting lower levels of functioning and less support. Depressed pain patients showed greater tendency to drop out…

Increased sharing behavior of preschoolers (N=6) by exposing group to: (1) books with themes on sharing, (2) a puppet presentation of book characters modeling sharing behavior, and (3) child use of puppets to portray book character sharing behavior. Found combined bibliotherapy and puppetry increased preschooler sharing behavior. (Author/CM)

Classical conditioning is responsible for students' positive and negative feelings, whether directed toward subject matter, peers, teachers, or education in general. This article explains how educators can use classical conditioning principles (such as reinforcement, extinction, and paired stimuli) to create an anxiety-free learning environment.…