The article provides a staff observation form for providing feedback to increase staff's differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors in the training of appropriate leisure activities in persons with severe and profound handicaps. (DB)

Literature is reviewed documenting the relationship between implementation of communication intervention and decreases in excess behavior in persons with severe disabilities. Operant conditioning and pragmatics are discussed in terms of their joint application to excess behavior, and a list of possible pragmatic intents of excess behavior is…

Reviews issues relevant to the use of humor in children's therapy. Discusses applications in the following contexts: (1) psychodynamic psychotherapy; (2) behavioral treatments of phobias; (3) family therapy; and (4) purposeful use of games and stories. (FMW)

The modification of dietary behaviors on a community-wide basis requires broad-based, multilevel approaches. This article presents advantages and limitations of point-of-contact interventions and describes the controlled evaluations of their efficacy. (JOW)

The review of the literature on handwriting instruction with learning disabled students found that a direct teaching approach is generally the most effective, that most process training programs lack empirical support, and that behavioral and cognitive modification techniques are empirically sound and effective. (Author/DB)

Two experiments with five individuals having severe mental retardation identified some problems and limits in training reversals of previously learned discrimination tasks using stimulus control shaping methodology. (DB)

Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) was applied to reduce the destructive behaviors of five-year-old quadruplets diagnosed with mental retardation and pervasive developmental disorder. Findings suggest that the effectiveness of NCR may be dependent on the use of a dense schedule of reinforcement initially and that systematic fading can increase the…

Examined influence of behavioral jargon on elementary school teachers' (n=94) acceptance of two behavioral interventions, one reinforcement-based (DRI) and one punishment-based (time-out) within context of consultation analogue. Overall, DRI received significantly higher acceptability ratings from teachers than did time-out, although ratings of…

After finding that self-injurious behavior in two young males with developmental disabilities was negatively reinforced by escape from instructional activities, an intervention provided noncontingent escape on a fixed schedule and differential negative reinforcement of other behavior. Provision of escape, even when noncontingent, resulted in…

Using an ABAB design, two procedures for requesting a change of activity were compared for their effect on the stereotypic behavior of a man with autism. One procedure requested immediate change of activities, whereas the second procedure gave advance notice of a change. Less stereotypy occurred when advance notice of change was given. (Author/DB)

Presents a model to help teachers and curriculum developers identify priorities for health instruction. The model combines ideas from many accepted theories in health education. The paper examines basic questions for curriculum planning, then describes the development and use of behavioral maps. (SM)

This article points out the demonstrated effectiveness of behavioral interventions across a broad spectrum of school populations. The article discusses the following aspects of applying reinforcement techniques in the classroom: commonly used behavioral terminology, reinforcer selection, critical application factors, advantages and disadvantages,…

Evaluation of reductive treatment versus instructional treatments on the generalized reduction of problem behaviors in two adolescents with severe intellectual disabilities indicated that when only one member of a response class was blocked, a collateral increase in other problem behaviors was observed, but learning an alternative positive…

Traces kinds of interventions recommended and implemented by school psychologists over last century. Notes that interventions have followed from theory and research interests of psychologists of the time, and traces relationship for each intervention type. Sees dominant tension in school psychology between behavioral-theory-based interventions and…

This article reviews the psychoeducational, behavioral, and ecological models underlying educational services to students with behavior disorders. Models are compared for their explanatory nature, implications for intervention, and how they address the scientific approach to behavior disorders. (DB)