There is evidence that parents could influence the development of their children's effortful control in infancy through social interaction. Playful interactions in infancy often involve scaffolding - i.e. the parental provision of support and modelling for problem solving and learning during play. However, previous research has found little…

The future of human performance technology (HPT) will be bright or dismal depending on how well HPT practitioners focus on careful and practical answers to three pivotal questions: What is good practice in human performance technology? What are the differences between good practice and bad? What are the connections between good research and…

Current research on training children in social skills, although promising, suffers from conceptual, methodological, and assessment problems. In addition, the rationale invoked for intervention with shy, withdrawn children appears to be questionable. This issue, as well as others, is addressed in a summary discussion. Recommendations for further…

A small group program designed to improve social interaction between children and their autistic siblings is evaluated. Problem solving, role playing, rehearsal, homework projects, and contingency management procedures are used in group sessions. Results of the observational assessment confirm the feasibility of successful interactional training…

Although educators often provide opportunities for students to engage in active academic responding, in many situations, students either cannot or will not respond. In the current article, we analyze the reasons students fail to respond. Practical procedures educators can use to prevent "can't do" problems are provided. "Won't do" problems are…

Two experiments demonstrate how individual differences in working memory (WM) impact the strategies used to solve complex math problems and how consequential testing situations alter strategy use. In Experiment 1, individuals performed multistep math problems under low- or high-pressure conditions and reported their problem-solving strategies.…

This report presents a description of the activities and findings of a research team providing consulting services to Princeton High School in the areas of classroom management, leadership and organizational development, and race relations. The predominately middle-class white school was merging with a predominately black working-class school.…

When managed effectively, conflict can lead to goal satisfaction, more creative solutions, and enhanced commitment to relationships. Approaches to conflict management are discussed and categorized. Similarities and contributions of widely used models are presented. Models that convert conflicts into problems to which problem-solving techniques can…

Compared two behavioral treatments for marital discord with a nonspecific control and waiting-list control. Behavioral treatments combined problem-solving skills with contingency management procedures, differing only in contracting form, good faith contracts, and quid pro quo contracts. Both behavioral groups improved significantly more than…

Evaluated short-term skill-training intervention that taught male alcoholics generation of appropriate behaviors in problematic situations. Verbal role-playing measures of responses to situations associated with drinking behavior and relapse showed significant performance improvement of training groups. Posttreatment follow-up indicated that skill…

Provides additional data to explain the reverse effects of rewards on task performances for training problem-solving skills in fourth-graders. (RL)

The effectance motivation of 624 sixth graders was assessed on the basis of two measures completed by teachers. Student were also observed for their choice of hard and easy problems after being informed of contingencies based on the correctness of solutions. (Author/CI)

Unhappily married couples (n=10) were divided into an experimental and control group. The treatment program consisted of training couples to interact more positively and efficiently when engaged in problem solving and teaching couples to make written contingency contracts. The group receiving treatment improved significantly more than did the…

Two potentially exciting elements are missing from the traditional case study analysis approach: opportunity for creative expression and clear focus on a contingency viewpoint in dealing with managerial problems. Computer-assisted scenario analysis emphasizes creative self-expression, a contingency viewpoint, and refinement of word-processing…

The phrase "death by PowerPoint" was not born in the offices of Microsoft's competitors; it came straight from the hearts of victimized meeting attendees. Microsoft estimates that at least 30 million PowerPoint presentations are made daily, with many rightfully warranting death verdict assessment. Death sentences often result from a "construction…