Available from: Sage Publications, Inc., 275 South Beverly Drive, Beverly Hills, California 90212. Presented are guidelines for the identification of target behaviors and suitable intervention techniques by therapists using behavior modification techniques. (IM)

After 20 second-grade lisping children were taught to articulate /s/ and /z/ correctly, each child invited three classmates to a session in which classmates could earn tokens contingent on the target child's correct articulation. Target children in groups using a response cost procedure produced significantly more correct responses. (Author/KM)

The effects of imipramine were assessed in 10 profoundly retarded subjects (aged 8-25 years) who exhibited either depressionlike symptoms or acting out behaviors. Results of observation, interval sampling, and the Aberrant Behavior Checklist indicated behavioral deterioration on irritability, lethargy/social withdrawal, and hyperactivity…

The use of life space interviews (LSI) as a crisis intervention approach was examined with 28 elementary age behavior disordered students in a residential setting over a nine-month period. LSI effectiveness was not dependent upon the child's verbal skills or maturity. Children tended to seek crisis support rather than resist it. (JW)

A review of the literature on classroom communication, structure, noise minimization, behavior modification, and cognitive behavior modification indicates that such techniques can help reduce non-attending, non-work-oriented behaviors of mainstreamed hyperactive adolescents. (Author/CB)

A Special Behavior Unit provided short-term residential treatment to persons with mental retardation who displayed severe maladaptive behavior. Program evaluation data indicated decreases in frequency of targeted behaviors during clients' residence. Post-discharge follow-up data indicated that 40 percent showed at least adequate adjustment and…

A school-based short-term intervention used successfully with impulsive, aggressive, shy, oversensitive, attention-disordered, and language- and learning-disabled elementary school students features exercises and activities such as generating ideas, rehearsing behaviors, and adapting behaviors to help students learn to "enter" play groups and join…

A systematic assessment procedure successfully identified stimulus preferences of seven profoundly and multiply handicapped individuals (ages 12-34). Preference rankings based on caregiver opinion did not consistently coincide with these results. Systematically assessed student preferences were a likely, though not certain, source of reinforcing…

Off-task and disruptive behavior in two fifth graders decreased rapidly during an intervention in which, working in dyads, they served either as peer monitors or point earners. Peer-monitor and point-earner roles, when alternated on an every-other-day basis, were equally effective in reducing inappropriate behavior. (Author/JW)

Two variations of a level system as a behavior management tool for behavior-disordered and learning-disabled adolescents (N=19) in a resource setting were evaluated. Four color-coded levels were designed to decrease talkouts and out-of-seat behaviors. During system implementation, disruptive and off-task behaviors decreased, and task completion…

Used meta-analyses to determine the effectiveness of behavioral marital therapy (BMT) and premarital intervention (BPI) studies. Found gains that were generally maintained over time, and equal for couples in Europe and the United States. Demonstrated higher effect sizes for comparisons of BMT with no treatment placebo control groups, whereas the…

The article reports the case history of a 15-year-old Australian girl with anorexia nervosa. Information is also given on prevalence, causes, definitions, and treatments including hospitalization, co-therapy, psychotherapy, behavior modification, family therapy, and counseling. (DB)

In the context of a response to other articles contained in a special issue on social interaction skills of handicapped students, trends in developing social interaction skills of behavior disordered students are discussed, including current training issues and procedures as well as suggestions for future research and program development. (JW)

Dimensions characteristically descriptive of applied behavior analysis over the past 20 years are explored: applied, behavioral, analytic, conceptual, technological, effective, and capable of appropriately generalized outcomes. Effectiveness in the future must take into account cost-benefit ratios, social validity assessments, and the need for…

The study assessed the effects of a negative practice contingency plus DRO on the self-stimulatory hand-clapping of three developmentally disabled students, aged 6-9. The procedure was effective in suppressing the behavior, and follow-up observations showed that the occurrence of hand-clapping continued to be low. (Author/JDD)