Implemented 6-week parent-child-school contract program with parents of 12 elementary school students and compared behavior of those 12 students to that of 12 matched controls. Written contracts prepared by parents and child stated target behaviors and predetermined reward or privilege. Rate of weekly goal completion for experimental students was…

In this case study, music was applied noncontingently and contingently across four settings with an adolescent male with autism, to reduce aberrant, repetitive vocalizations. The intervention was associated with dramatic reductions in the primary aberrant behavior and reductions in two other aberrant behaviors. Task performance was differentially…

Reports on a 3-year study of 855 adults who quantified reasons for choosing 1 conflicting behavior with another. Finds that, when the reasons to do something are roughly equal to the reasons against doing it, extraneous effects from the participants "life-world" often interfere as moral temptations. (CFR)

This paper, in French, describes possible links between moral discussion, moral judgment, moral action, and moral atmosphere in a readaptation unit for male adolescent delinquents in which the Just Community Approach was used. Results showed an improvement in individual moral judgment and decreased frequency of misbehaviors after group…

Describes one elementary school's school-wide effort to design and implement strategies for school improvement in discipline, community relations, and academic performance. Children are taught a simple three-step method for dealing with conflict. Referrals to the timeout room and discipline referrals for serious behavior infractions have been…

A study investigated effects of classwide peer tutoring (CWPT) on classroom behavior and academic performance of 18 students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). CWPT led to improvements in performance in math or spelling for 50% of students with ADHD, along with reductions in off-task behavior for most participants. (Author/CR)

Examined the effects of an initial test of a dual intervention program designed to enhance moral reasoning and person efficacy among fifth- and sixth-grade children in order to determine whether the intervention would advance behavior reflective of moral attributes. Found that the study group advanced in several of the efficacy measures as well as…

This study examined the effects of a cross-age peer-tutoring program on the social skills of two sixth-grade and two socially rejected and isolated kindergarten boys. Peer tutoring consisted of the older boys conducting social-skills training with their younger tutees. The frequency of positive social interactions increased for all four boys, with…

A survey of 172 teachers of students with emotional/behavioral disorders found that 71% reported they currently use level systems for behavioral management. Analysis notes similarities and differences between level system users and nonusers, characteristics common to level systems, and inconsistencies in perceptions of effectiveness and…

This study examined effects of providing "mood calming" background music in a special class for children with emotional and behavioral difficulties. Findings indicated a significant improvement in behavior and mathematics performance for all 10 of the children, with effects most noticeable for children with problems related to constant stimulus…

Two studies evaluated effects of First Step to Success, a collaborative home and school early intervention program designed for kindergartners who show signs of emerging antisocial behavior. Two sets of 5-year-old male twins were the subjects of the 4-year studies. Exposure to the First Step program produced powerful behavior changes that were…

Applies Stephen Covey's "seven habits of highly effective people" to creating stronger, more effective middle school teams. Presents ideas for implementing a flexible staff development plan for learning about and how to practice Covey's seven habits. Asserts that highly effective middle level teams will build highly effective students.…

This article attempts to present a multidimensional perspective of functional behavioral analysis that will lead to psychoeducational interventions in which students with emotional/behavioral disorders are taught to think clearly, solve problems, and self-regulate the intensity of their emotions. (Contains references.) (Author/DB)

An adolescent with severe mental retardation and cerebral palsy who displayed attention-maintained destructive behavior was exposed to noncontingent reinforcer delivery (NCR) with a high-preference or a low-preference stimulus while reinforcement for destructive behavior with attention remained in effect. NCR without extinction was effective only…

A study compared students in 4-H school-age day care programs with control groups in grades K-2, K-8, and K-12 in North Carolina. Parents, teachers, and administrators saw few behavioral changes in day care participants, but day care staff identified academic and social behavior changes. Results may have been hampered by the use of a single…