A study attempted to measure the effects of contingency management, conditions that essentially forced subjects to write, on their writing productivity and creative ideas. Subjects were 27 published college faculty with doctorates, divided into three groups of nine. The first or contingency group participated in a "baseline phase" during which…

Problems and strategies in implementing classroom token economy systems as a means of behavior modification are reviewed. Discussed is the importance of such factors in the original token plan as the reinforcement schedule, and time-out procedures. Among implementation issues considered are observing and counting behaviors. (CL)

Twenty-four deaf children (6 to 10 years old) were individually administered a task in which possession of accumulating candy rewards was made contingent upon the child stopping further accumulation. Ss, who under instruction periodically signed statements about the goodness of the reward, waited significantly longer before terminating the waiting…

The newsletter describes the development of a therapeutic recreation program for the severely and profoundly retarded using a recreational programing hierarchy approach. Sections address the following areas: identifying the habits and habit systems of the retarded individual as they relate to the interactional process of the family system,…

Discussed are findings of a review of 21 research reports concerned with the use of environmental music with mentally retarded persons. It is explained that the literature in two data bases was searched and relevant reports examined. The reports are organized into general findings (seven reports), use of music in contingency management (nine…

Students from an undergraduate course in the experimental analysis of behavior and from an honors section and a night class section of introductory psychology were exposed to a contingency program designed to produce the same specified terminal performance in every student. The principles underlying the course administration, scheduled activities,…

Reviews research on the effectiveness of such procedures as differential reinforcement of behaviors incompatible with disruptive behavior (DRO), a contingent removal of reinforcement (time-out), overcorrection, and punishment to suppress seriously disruptive and self-injurious behaviors. Research on the generalization, maintenance, and side…

Discussed are some techniques available to the parent trainer that utilize behavioral principles to teach behavioral principles. (SBH)

A sample of 34 infants participated in 3 experiments designed to determine whether experience with response-contingent stimulation would enhance an infant's subsequent learning performance. (Author/JMB)

A study of the effects on social behavior of alternate contingency systems in the physical play of six five-year-olds indicated that the frequency of occurrence of a target behavior can be increased, even when both target and ontarget behaviors are reinforced, if the reinforcement of the target behavior is more powerful. (Author/CB)

Draws from the empirical foundations of operant psychology to propose a unified theory, known as contingency analysis, for social work practice. Discusses the four propositions on which the theory is based that account for human behavior at all levels of social work practice. Shows that this approach has great utility for the profession.…

Focuses on currently popular behavioral models and examines their implications and limitations. Discusses behavioral methodology in relation to educational research and critiques contemporary behavioral practice. Describes ten characteristics of a behavioral interactionist perspective which, among other things, encourages learner initiative and…

The study found no relationship between improved social behavior in a group of juveniles residing at a county shelter care facility and decreased frequency and duration of disruptions above 85 decibels. Subjects did reduce noise levels when stereo listening was made contingent on reduced noise. (Author/DB)

To investigate the effects of instrumental eating on food preferences, 45 preschool children were assigned to either instrumental eating or control conditions. Preference data obtained before and after a series of snack sessions (consisting of milk beverages) demonstrated a significant negative shift in preference for the instrumental groups.…