A behavior analytic methodology for linking assessment and intervention for aberrant classroom behavior is presented. It assists the behavioral consultant and teacher in evaluating environmental variables supporting undesirable behavior structurally, functionally, or by some combination. A case study of a severely mentally retarded girl is…

This article reviews the development of functional analysis in understanding behavior problems like self-injury and aggression and, more recently, school-based problems. Seen as particularly promising is current work on the analysis of setting events and analysis of dependent variables by considering the effects of intervention on response…

This review of classroom interventions for students with attention deficit disorders discusses attentional weaknesses, the use of observation and behavioral analysis to clarify issues that need to be addressed in intervention planning, and subsequent determination of the behavior management programs and academic strategies that will result in…

A British year-seven pupil developed school attendance problems and was referred to home teaching along with a gradually phased reintegration to school. The program was unsuccessful until parental involvement in facilitating the girl's return to school was emphasized. This article examines the participants' search for a scapegoat and the role of…

Assessing the acceptability of various treatment procedures for individuals with disabilities and challenging behaviors in residential/vocational situations is a much debated issue. Instead of being forced to stay in untenable situations, these individuals should be helped to develop more comfortable environments. Efforts should focus on…

This article highlights how instructional management differs from behavior management in terms of common practice, and demonstrates how an instructional strategy used to address persistent academic errors, called "precorrection," can be applied to change chronic problem behaviors. Seven basic correction and precorrection steps are…

The process of "functional assessment" is recommended to establish a basis for individualized behavior management programing for students with special needs. The approach is based on identifying the functions of the challenging behavior and involves systematically collecting information about the behavior and developing an intervention…

This case study demonstrates the use of functional assessment with a 17-year-old student with severe intellectual disabilities. The case focuses on the importance of identifying setting events associated with problem behaviors and, when these events occur, making appropriate scheduling or programing changes to prevent difficult situations from…

A study involving two children, ages two to three found that experimenter-selection of rewards was a more effective procedure for modifying behavior than was self-selection, though a study of four first graders indicated no significant differences between self-selection and experimenter-selection of rewards. (Author/JDD)

Four approaches to services and intervention design for young children with learning and/or behavior problems are described, followed by a discussion of PASSKey (planned activity, systematic sampling, and keystone behavior), an ecobehavioral and naturalistic approach to intervention design. A case study illustrates the model. (Author/DB)

Examines interplay between theory, research, and application in treatment of clinical problems in context of psychotherapy research program for Hispanic behavior problem youth and families. Discusses findings in structural family therapy, measurement of family and child psychodynamic functioning, development of culturally appropriate…

This study found consistently reduced levels of problem behaviors with three students (ages 5-11) with severe autism and/or mental retardation when the students were given opportunities, during a session, to make choices among instructional tasks and reinforcers. Choice-making opportunities did not impact the rate of correct responding on…

This study of three individuals (ages 12-14) with profound mental retardation found that visual screening was more effective than thioridazine in reducing stereotypy and increasing social behavior. Thioridazine produced modest stereotypy reductions and minor social behavior increases, with a higher dose slightly more effective than a lower dose…

This paper examines the functions of challenging behavior in individuals with mental retardation, methods for determining the function of a particular behavior, strategies for implementing initial communicative functions that compete with challenging behavior, and procedures that specifically address attention-motivated and…

This commentary on assessing the social validity of behavior-change programs examines which groups should be included in the assessment, whether social validity assessment should be required, and whether new methods are needed. The paper notes that social validation should be an interactive process between researcher and consumer. (JDD)