This case study demonstrates the effective use of functional assessment, with a 13-year-old student with autism functioning at a level of severe retardation. The process involved identifying and defining target behaviors (clothes touching and tearing), gathering information, forming and verifying the hypothesis, and implementing an intervention.…

This case study demonstrates the use of functional assessment to improve the classroom behavior of a 10 year old with mild mental retardation. The process involved conducting a brief prefunctional assessment, identifying variables for hypothesis testing, and developing and implementing an intervention based on the hypotheses. (DB)

Various client-centered, dynamic, and cognitive/behavioral counseling approaches are suggested for development of greater social awareness and competence, more positive self-esteem, and a more cohesive sense of self in learning-disabled adolescents and adults. Individual case vignettes are offered to explain both the rationale and strategies of…

Using a "review of reviews" methodology, this literature synthesis on stimulant use with children with attention deficit disorder compared three reviews from each of three review types (traditional, meta-analytic, general audience). A consensus was found to exist about the expected benefits and the acknowledged limitations of stimulant medication.…

Randomly assigned 60 adolescent girls at risk for school failure to payment program in which girls received $50.00/month to improve grades or attendance; case management program; or control group. Both experimental groups were superior to control with respect to positive changes in grades and attendance. Case management program showed much…

The durability of positive personal changes observed in 47 women's studies students 9 months after the last week of class was studied. Positive effects, including changes in interactions and the willingness to adopt new roles and behaviors, lasted through the follow-up, suggesting the usefulness of womens' studies for personal change. (SLD)

Data from the National Youth Study of 1976 are analyzed to explore the relations between conventional beliefs and attitudes and delinquent behavior. Using a stage-state analysis in addition to structural-equation models reveals aspects of the relation that are not apparent from structural equations alone. (SLD)

Specific points of question and concern are presented in response to Stephen Fawcett's paper on community research and action values (EC 602 711). These include who decides on community intervention priorities? who should be the target of preventive interventions? and what about problems that cannot be solved with local resources? (JDD)

This study demonstrated that five withdrawn adults living in a residential center for psychotic and mentally handicapped persons could serve as peer therapists to increase the social interaction of other withdrawn residents. Positive results were maintained during a four-month follow-up condition. (Author/DB)

This study, involving 4 children (ages 6 and 11) with autism, demonstrated that a self-management technique was effective in improving responsiveness to verbal initiations from others and in extending responsiveness to settings (community, home, and school) without the presence of a treatment provider. Concomitant reductions in disruptive behavior…

Describes a study demonstrating positive changes in collateral behaviors of three young children with visual impairments following an intervention of shared teacher-child play. Results support the pervasive impact of play, suggesting the possible use of supported play for incidental intervention in multiple behaviors of young children with visual…

A review of 27 studies found that self-monitoring can be successfully used with special education students to decrease inappropriate classroom behavior and to increase attention to task, positive classroom behaviors, and some social skills. Self-monitoring also appears to increase the likelihood of generalizing learned behaviors to new settings.…

This response to a critique (EC 605 541) of the authors' case study, supporting the effectiveness of positive-oriented programing approaches with persons with mental retardation, offers follow-up information on the individual involved, including his complete medication history, and defends the view that the self-determination supported by their…

Describes behaviors of infants, toddlers, and their center caregivers at entry and after three and six months of group care. Longitudinal data revealed increased activity/interest and peer interaction and a decline in negative affect and adult interaction/contact during the first three months. Age-matched group comparisons revealed improvements in…

Results from administration of the Maslach Burnout Inventory indicated that 60 direct care staff working with autistic clients in school programs that permitted the use of strong aversives reported more intense feelings of personal accomplishment than did 56 staff whose programs were limited to the use of mild aversives. (Author/JDD)