Verbal and physical aggression are risk factors for community placement of individuals with serious and persistent mental illness. Depending on the motivations involved, treatment typically consists of psychotropic medications and psychosocial interventions, including contingency management procedures and anger management training. Effects of a…

Pigeons were trained in three experiments with a two-key, concurrent-chains choice procedure. The initial links were equal variable-interval schedules, and the terminal links were random-time schedules with equal average interreinforcement intervals. Across the three experiments, the pigeons either stayed in a terminal link until a reinforcer was…

Two experiments demonstrate how individual differences in working memory (WM) impact the strategies used to solve complex math problems and how consequential testing situations alter strategy use. In Experiment 1, individuals performed multistep math problems under low- or high-pressure conditions and reported their problem-solving strategies.…

The study implemented simple classroom procedures to increase the ontask behavior of eight second and third grade learning disabled students in an inner city school. Procedures used were modification of the environmental arrangement of the classroom (such as moving the learning centers closer to students' desks), changing the method of curriculum…

This study of self-reinforcement in children's learning looks at two key variables in the self-reinforcement process: the type of reward available and the level of achievement requisite for reward. The study was conducted to clarify the relative efficacy of self-dispensed verbal and tangible rewards for learning. The study also attempted to…

Designed primarily for elementary and secondary school teachers, the book presents one approach to the systematic and effective use of positive reinforcement to motivate better learning in normal or disturbed children. In Part 1, describing how contingency contracting works, each chapter contains a self-diagnostic pretest, narrative summary and…

The author explains behavior in terms of reinforcement and provides some suggestions and guidelines for teachers in setting goals for students and influencing student behavior. (IM)

Three experiments are reported in which the effects of oral overcorrection, used as negative reinforcer, were determined for thumb sucking and other behaviors in two 4-year-old children enrolled in a day care program for culturally disadvantaged behavior-disordered preschoolers. (GO)

Briefly summarizes some of the "state of the art" findings that will help performance technologists to contribute to the development of persons and organizations through the rise of motivational technologies. (Author)

An inexpensive urine alarm circuit is described which works with detection currents of less than 10 microamps, thus preventing any electrical burns. (Author)

Examines the relationship between self-instructions and subsequent instruction-following performance of 7- and 8-year-old children as a function of previous reinforcement for rule-breaking or rule-following. (BD)

Reports a study conducted to determine whether individuals who observed others experiencing noncontingency would develop learned helplessness vicariously. Subjects were 75 college female undergraduates. (MP)

In Experiment I, the effects of a verbal warning, such as is used in Overcorrection, delivered contingently on the stereotyped mouthing behavior of two 10-year-old autistic/retarded children were examined. (Author)

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects on 32 preschool children of being imitated and counterimitated (performing the opposite behavior) by an adult. (BRT)

The effects of adult presence and reinforcement payoff on subsequent instruction were studied with second and third grade children. (BRT)