This response to an article by Reiss and Havercamp (1997) that suggested that sensitivity theory offers a basis from which to assess and treat challenging behavior by people with development disabilities, critiques sensitivity theory, outlines the tenets of behavior analysis, and describes development and use of functional assessment. (Author/CR)

Patient-centered strategies derived from the stages of change model, and motivational interviewing are used to develop a structured, teachable, and acceptable intervention for clinicians to help patients consider their smoking during general medical consultations. The method is described. Results for the model, tested on 270 smokers, are…

Discusses the Brain Power Program, an attribution retraining intervention to reduce peer-directed aggression. Results suggest that improvements in behavior are related to changes in subjects' attributions. Intervention effects are moderate to strong for many students but not evident at all for some students. Treatment effects diminished over time.…

A study found the stereotypic behaviors of four children with developmental disabilities reduced by 51.6 percent in a single frequency treatment consisting of one daily ten minute walk/jog session, however, the behaviors reduced 58.9 percent following a multiple frequency conditions that involved three ten minute walk/jog session per day.…

Two studies involving five students (ages 9-17) with autism found that stereotypy was multiply determined or occurred across all assessment conditions (attention, demand, no-attention, and recreation conditions) and that the presumed association between response topography and behavioral function may be less important than previously realized.…

A study compared the effects of two interventions (high-probability requests and preferred item as a distractor) on the success of classroom transitions of two 6-year-olds with behavior problems in inclusive classrooms. Results indicated that both interventions were effective in increasing successful transitions and were found to be socially…

This paper examines common causes of visually impaired clients' noncooperation with activities recommended by rehabilitation professionals. Recent literature on effective strategies for increasing compliance is reviewed, and techniques such as contingency contracts, task analysis, and openness to client innovation and modification of activities…

This study evaluated a strategy for reducing severe problem behavior in an employment situation for three adults with mental retardation and autism. The strategy involved intervention based on hypotheses about the problem behavior's maintaining variables, multiple component intervention, and evaluation using a measure of latency to problem…

Participants from a fitness club were randomly assigned to control (n=50), placebo (n=50), and stimulus control (n=100) groups to study the isolated effects of stimulus control on attendance. Control stimulus group was given "exercise" key chains as the stimulus control. Stimulus control by itself was not an effective intervention for…

Examines preservice elementary education teachers' knowledge and beliefs about children who are struggling with learning to read and what these future teachers believed they should do to help these children. Notes that after teacher candidates participated in a redesigned corrective reading methods course, they shifted in their beliefs toward…

Investigates the effects of participating in peer education training on 30 undergraduate peer educators. Participants reported significantly more leadership, health knowledge, and active involvement in changing personal health behaviors after completing peer education training than at the onset of the course. Self-esteem did not significantly…

This article describes several features important in the success of using a behavioral model when treating individuals with autism and presents remaining issues to be addressed for improving treatment effectiveness. It urges future research to include strict empirical designs that allow for sound inferences regarding the parameters of treatment…

This article discusses strategies and procedures for promoting maintenance and generalization of student behavior changes resulting from interventions based on functional behavioral assessment. Strategies include self-management techniques, cognitive mediation, self-advocacy training, use of peers, booster training, environmental modifications,…

A study developed a systematic functional assessment package to reduce the stereotypy and self-injurious behaviors maintained by nonsocial reinforcement in two individuals with mental retardation. Differential reinforcement of zero rates of responding (DRO) procedures using stimuli within the targeted sensory classes were successful in eliminated…

Data are presented to document the initial dramatic reduction in self-injurious behavior and the ongoing effectiveness of contingent electric shock treatment of an adolescent. Positive effects of the intervention are documented, as is information on the interaction of a medical condition, psychoactive mediation status, and staff changes. (Contains…