Twenty children diagnosed as mentally retarded (MR) were enrolled in a special training program designed to increase Ss' school-appropriate behaviors by means of the sequential and consequential arrangement of teaching objectives and teaching procedures. A hierarchy of achievement levels was established with a sequential and consequential…

This study tests the contention that a reinforcing agent's manner of administering rewards and punishments is construed by his associates as revealing his margin of freedom, and that associates are more attentive to cues concerning a reinforcing agent's dispositional qualities, and more inclined to ingratiate themselves to him, when he employes…

The first part of this paper is a general introduction which defines programmed instruction, traces the history of the concept, and explains its basic ideas and terminology. Progress and problems in research and in evaluating programmed materials are also briefly considered, and a short selective bibliography is included in this first section. The…

The teacher's guide presents some of the basic considerations necessary for classroom implementation of a public school program for autistic and seriously emotionally disturbed (ED) children. Included are descriptive infomration about typical ED student's behavior and management techniques for use in the classroom. Also given are basic ideas…

Three nonprofessionals, including those with limited education and advanced age, received training to become effective behavior modification agents (therapists). Each was then individually observed and videotaped in his work with a retarded child. Therapists' performances were not adequate for effecting the desired changes in the childrens'…

Implications of the behaviorist and cognitive theories in language instruction are discussed in this article. Some contributions of Skinner, Politzer, Valette, Morton, Lane, and Mueller and Niedzielski clarify the behaviorists' view of language as a myriad of conditioned responses. In turn, the cognitive viewpoint, seen as the acquisiton and…

Described is a 1972 workshop designed to train Pennsylvania personnel in assessing and programing for low functioning or difficult retardates. State legislation dealing with education of the retarded is reviewed. Considered are assessment techniques in the following areas: motor, communication, cognitive, and social-emotional development and…