A group of students with emotional disturbances generated a list of rewards and received rewards after accumulation of points determined by the daily behavior of each group member. Use of this motivator and behavior management tool seemed to increase the cohesiveness of the group and prosocial behavior of its members. (JDD)

Uses a control group study to compare the effectiveness of contingency management training and communication skills training for training parents to manage children with conduct disorders. Concludes that more subjects in the contingency management group met a criterion of clinical success than in either the communication skills or the control…

Proposes a curriculum for dental/dental hygiene schools that would teach oral health care providers how to routinely assess tobacco use, advise cessation, and provide assistance and follow-up for tobacco-using patients. The article emphasizes the importance of making tobacco interventions routine components of schools' clinical teaching programs.…

This article presents strategies teachers can use to develop a pool of potential sensory reinforcers for behavior problems in students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, mild or moderate mental retardation, or language delays. It also provides a step-by-step method for conducting ongoing reinforcer assessment, and suggests how the…

Two groups of students with disabilities (n=14, ages 8-10) in self-contained classes participated in a teacher-directed peer confrontation system used in conjunction with a token economy system. Results showed that the system was effective in modifying inappropriate behavior and that students had positive reactions to the system. (Author/JDD)

Specific points of question and concern are presented in response to Stephen Fawcett's paper on community research and action values (EC 602 711). These include who decides on community intervention priorities? who should be the target of preventive interventions? and what about problems that cannot be solved with local resources? (JDD)

Three individuals with multiple severe disabilities were taught an appropriate response to problem behaviors, but the response was less efficient than the problem behavior on physical effort, schedule of reinforcement, or stimulus-reinforcer time delay. The response did not compete successfully with the problem behaviors until a new, more…

Determined the effects of a highly structured and intensive 10-day camp program incorporating behavior modification techniques on 111 boys and 16 girls, ages 6-12, with severe behavior problems. Results of pre- and posttesting indicate that brief, intensive, and specialized camping programs can significantly increase these children's self-esteem.…

Results from administration of the Maslach Burnout Inventory indicated that 60 direct care staff working with autistic clients in school programs that permitted the use of strong aversives reported more intense feelings of personal accomplishment than did 56 staff whose programs were limited to the use of mild aversives. (Author/JDD)

Explains how cognitive behavior modification (CBM) can be used to teach students self-control through increased awareness of cognitive processes and effects of behavior. Briefly describes three CBM procedures: (1) observational learning, (2) self-instruction, and (3) self-monitoring. Offers specific guidelines for implementing self-instruction and…

This article reviews research findings that indicate the schooling of minority students is being jeopardized by heightened anxiety over school safety and the advent of "zero tolerance" regulations. A means for a more constructive focus is discussed that calls for ethical considerations, cross-cultural literacy, and behavior management and…

When parent-teacher conferences don't improve a problem student's behavior, a systematic change strategy is needed. Daily report cards are effective if they divide the day into segments, provide evaluations for each segment, feature increasingly demanding goals, provide parent reinforcement, use mild punishment, and accrue reinforcement rewards. A…

Exercise-induced asthma (EIA) affects 12-15% of the population. This comprehensive guide suggests that nearly all individuals with EIA can be active, highlighting both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management of asthma and stressing the importance of rigorous patient education in controlling underlying asthma and EIA. (SM)

This article describes the ramifications of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act's positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBS) requirements in the context of disciplinary situations, including the interplay of PBS issues with functional behavioral assessment and behavioral intervention plans. The roles of the general educator…

It is argued that challenging behavior can be better understood if a correlational analysis (looking for correlations between behavior occurrence and other variables) is used in addition to functional analysis. A case example is provided of a man whose aggressive outbursts were negatively correlated with trips out of his unit. (Contains…