Recent research on mass media, with a particular emphasis on television, is reviewed for the effects that the media has on behavior and the use of media in educational endeavors. Although a very pessimistic view is taken concerning the contribution of specific research studies, it is emphasized that one should not underestimate their importance,…

In this effort to isolate personal characteristics which might influence the behavior of disruptive students, high school teachers were asked to identify disruptive students (inhibitors) and well-behaved students (facilitators). Out of this group, 59 inhibitors and 86 facilitators were selected for study. All subjects were administered the Quality…

IN AN ATTEMPT TO MODIFY OR SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOR IN NURSERY SCHOOL CHILDREN, A TEACHING TECHNIQUE WAS INTRODUCED WHEREIN THE TEACHER WOULD ATTEND TO THE CHILD ONLY WHEN THE CHILD WAS MANIFESTING ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR AND WOULD IGNORE THE CHILD WHEN HE WAS MANIFESTING UNDESIRABLE BEHAVIOR. IT WOULD THEN BE POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE…

It is assumed here that the most effective way of reducing the rate of deviant child behavior is to alter the reinforcing contingencies supplied by the social agents who live with the child. The immediate focus for the intervention program is upon the social environment in which the child lives, because it is the parents, siblings, peers, and…

Forty-nine sophomore students identified from reading and nonverbal IQ scores received remedial reading instruction, based on individual, diagnostic reading evaluations, in small classes of 10 to 15 students for one hour each day of the school year. Thirty-four received remedial instruction for the full academic year; 15 received instruction for…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the treatment process of individualized lesson plans for teaching discipline to children was effective in reducing time-off-task and disruptive behaviors, while increasing time-on-task and appropriate social behaviors. The study was conducted at a primary school in Knoxville, Tennessee.…

Presented is the preliminary report of the Interagency Collaborative Group on Hyperkinesis (ICGH) with functions which include exchanging information, coordinating expertise, evaluating existing data from ongoing research and reviewing proposed research for the purpose of making recommendations concerning hyperkinesis and dietary factors. The…

This study focused upon whether there was a difference in the perception by peers of the target child in a classroom discipline situation after approval-focused desists (e.g., "June, I don't like children who talk without permission.") and task-focused desists (e.g., "Jane, You will not finish your reading if you continue to talk."). Thirty-two…

The basic premise under investigation is that systematic intervention in a predictable, natural occurring stress situation for population groups: (1) can promote acquisition of competence and coping skills; and (2) minimize pathological response to stress and eventual need for treatment. This study is an exploration of preadolescent development of…

A day treatment school program is described in terms of its objectives and educational program. Psychoeducational teaching is used with the emotionally disturbed children who attend in hopes of: (1) modifying their behavior; (2) increasing their academic achievement; and (3) returning to a regular classroom. In determining outcome results of the…

Videotapes were used to determine disruptive versus relevant student behavior exhibited (1) with teachers trained under the Oral Language Program (OLP) implemented by the Southwest Cooperative Educational Laboratory and (2) with non-OLP teachers. Five categories of disruptive behaviors--gross motor, noise making, verbalization, orienting, and…

Because training teachers to collect observational data and to use operant techniques has frequently been found to be prohibitively time-consuming, the author attempted to develop simpler, more efficient training procedures. This report presents the results of a study in which these procedures were implemented. Teachers followed a three step…

This paper presents research into the characteristics of low-income families in the Portland, Oregon area. The contention is made that the learning behavior of children from these families is affected by their pre-school and early school experiences, which may be unsatisfactory in preparing them to learn. Three types of aberrations may affect…

A token reinforcement system was introduced into a second grade classroom, and seven (out of 21) class members and the teacher were observed for 8 months. Each of the eight phases of the study lasted from 2 to 5 weeks. The first four phases established a base period and determined the separate effects of classroom rules, half hour academic…

This study investigates the effects of teaching decision-making skills on the classroom behavior of middle school problem students. Small groups of students met for 15 weeks with a counselor who adapted the "Deciding" program (College Entrance Examination Board) as the decision-making paradigm. Coppersmith's Self-Esteem Index and…