This book presents highlights from the February 2005 Forum. Discussions and perspectives include educational mandates, effective disciplinary practices in schools, and effective use of quality instruction as a means of preventing challenging behavior

This booklet explains a system for prevention of and intervention with behavior problems in individuals with mental retardation and autism. The underlying premise is that all behaviors are an effort at communication and that by deciphering the communicative intent or function, one can guide an individual to a more acceptable mode of communication.…

A meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the success of cognitive-behavioral therapy in reducing disruptive behaviors exhibited by school-age children in a school setting. Twenty-seven articles about studies using cognitive-behavioral therapy and a teacher measure of disruptive behavior were analyzed critically, and appropriate outcome measures…

A within-subject reversal design was employed in a sheltered workshop to assess the effects of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) in reducing inappropriate verbalizations by a severely retarded adult with Down's syndrome. (Author/CL)

This study, an approach to controlling "acting out" behavior of handicapped children in elementary schools, discusses sensory extinction as an approach to reducing the disruptive classroom behavior of a nine-year-old severely retarded boy through behavioral consultation. (Author/PN)

The response cost (RC) procedure has been applied in regular classrooms and playgrounds, self-contained and resource rooms, and residential settings with normal children and elementary-age, behavior-disordered children. RC involves the removal of previously awarded or earned reinforcers for the purpose of reducing deviant, maladaptive, or…

Examined effects of self-monitoring alone and self-monitoring plus self-reward on three academic and three related procrastinative behaviors of six academically disadvantaged minority college students. Self-monitoring plus self-reward was effective in producing substantial increases in academic behaviors and grades and in producing decreases in…

A training program using written manuals, videotaped models, rehearsal, role plays, and performance feedback was effective in increasing the instruction, informing, and praising skills of five graduate students in family therapist training. Subjects worked with parents and their developmentally handicapped or behavior problem preschoolers. (CL)

Evaluated the effect of a response cost lottery procedure on the percentage of on-task behavior and accuracy of academic work of three fourth-grade students. Although contingencies were attached primarily to behavior, both on-task behavior and academic performance measures increased in treatment conditions. (Author)

Examined the vicarious effects on one child of observing another child receive direct social reinforcement in two studies. Results of both studies were similar. Although children who observed other children being reinforced increased their performance initially, their performance levels decreased over time. (Author)

Describes a community treatment program cojointly administered by a New Mexico local school district, university, and mental health center. The program is designed to facilitate the adoption of personal and academic skills among profoundly behaviorally disordered adolescents. (Author/CM)

A parent training program which is highly effective in the treatment of child noncompliance and other behavior problems of 3- to 8-year-old children is described and data on the program's effectiveness are presented. (PHR)

Reports a successful method of teaching toileting procedures to a young elementary student. Implications discussed for school psychologists were: (1) handling intervention through a consultation model; (2) using the simplest approach before attempting more powerful procedures; and (3) attempting treatment despite previously unsuccessful…

Two case studies are presented illustrating how the treatment program eliminated rumination with effects maintained 1 to 9 months following treatment, and how substantial weight gain was also demonstrated with one S who had previously lost weight. (Author/DLS)

Reviews laboratory research on behavioral momentum conducted with pigeons and summarizes its findings and their generality to people, including those with mental retardation. Discusses the high-probability procedure used to establish compliance in clinical settings and based in part on an extension of the momentum metaphor. (CR)