Reinforcers lose their effectiveness when they are presented repeatedly. Early researchers labeled this loss of effectiveness as "satiation" without conducting an experimental analysis. When such an analysis is conducted, "habituation" provides a more precise and empirically accurate label for the changes in reinforcer effectiveness. This paper…

Presented are 12 programed instruction exercises in writing letters of the alphabet, spelling words, addition, numeral-number association, subtraction, color words chart, answering basic questions about stories, sentences, paragraphs, and paragraph titles for elementary school children who demonstrate a learning disability and/or behavior problem.…

Research on overcorrection (for use with the mentally handicapped, schizophrenic, and autistic) is reviewed, and two types of overcorrection, restitutional and positive-practice, are described. (BD)

Exposed students in four second-grade classes exhibiting disruptive behavior to response cost programs with varying initial reinforcement and fine levels. Results indicated all treatments were highly effective, as all groups underwent maximum behavioral change. Suggests degree of aversiveness of procedure did not appear to be strongly related to…

The performance of five students (ages 6 to 10) in an adjustment class for deaf children was compared under fixed and variable ratio schedules of reinforcement. During the VR condition, students visually attended more and engaged in disruptive behavior less often than during the FR condition. (Author)

The monograph contains 15 papers (many given at a 1977 Arizona State University conference) on children with severe behavior problems. Among the topics addressed are implementation of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act; identification of early infantile autism; the effectiveness of behavioral strategies in teaching…

The case studies presented by seven school psychologists illustrate the nature and scope of psychological intervention with emotionally disturbed and otherwise handicapped students. Included are papers with the following titles and authors: "Desensitization--An Approach to the Elimination of Phobic Behavior" (E. Asmus); "Reduction of Classroom…

A 3-year Title III project provided inservice training to 183 elementary teachers in methods of improving behavior, academic performance, and affective reactions of children with socio-emotional conflicts treatable in the regular classroom. The program included summer workshops and released-time training during the school year in indepth…

The primary aim of this book is to bring to the grade school teacher a survey of the most recent techniques and ideas of behavior modification which are applicable to good classroom management. All of the approaches and techniques presented could be of interest to teachers working at all grade levels. Since research has shown that the systematic…

Presented are nine short papers concerning teacher role in effecting behavioral modification in the mentally handicapped student. The paper on functional analysis of behavior discusses use of reinforcers, changing reinforcer strength, reinforcement schedules, and discriminative stimuli. A continuation paper on functional analysis of behavior…

The background, organization, and operation of the Alaska Psychiatric Institute (API), a residential program for behavior disordered and emotionally disturbed children and adolescents, are described. Components of the educational program at API, including academic and social assessment, individual education plans, and elementary and secondary…

A program was designed to train college students in the use of behavior modification procedures with problem children in the classroom. Through application of social learning theory principles and operant conditioning, program trainees learned to reduce the innapropriate behavior of problem children in class, to prevent small difficulties from…

Compared was the effectiveness of punishment and positive reinforcement on the nonattending behaviors and academic achievement of 18 elementary grade children in two special classes for children with social or adjustment problems. During the positive reinforcement condition each student earned a slash mark whenever he was observed attending to…