This article presents criteria researchers should consider when seeking to establish a socially valid understanding of problem behavior. Criteria include determining if behavior change is demonstrated in typical settings and whether the intervention promotes movement in the least restrictive environment, is conducted by families and/or school and…

Of 52 children (ages 9-19) with visual impairments who attended a sports camp, 15 demonstrated stereotypic rocking currently or in the past. Children most likely to rock were those with retinopathy of prematurity who underwent lengthy hospital stays and multiple surgeries early in life and who were blind from birth. (Contains references.)…

This article describes the following steps for developing and implementing system-wide behavior support: establishing a foundation for collaboration; building faculty involvement; establishing a data-based decision-making system, brainstorming and selecting strategies within an action planning process; implementing a school-wide program through an…

A study compared the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Behavior Problems Inventory (BPI) for assessing the maladaptive behavior of 226 adults, mostly with severe or profound mental retardation. Individuals with elevated BPI scores generally had higher ABC scores, however, the extent of covariation differed across subscales. (Contains…

Examines the effect of a special needs category (intellectual disabilities versus emotional and behavioral problems) and student teachers' (n=93) training concerning their attitudes toward inclusion. Reports that neither category affected their attitudes. Determined that teachers were more negative about the impact students with emotional and…

Examines relationships between Norwegian students' perceptions of class management and their self-reported misbehavior. Students' perceptions of class management accounted for significant amounts of variance in self-reported misbehavior. Perceived class management was more strongly associated with off-task orientation and opposition toward…

Used data from longitudinal study of consequences of child maltreatment to explore relationships between service referrals and children's behavioral and academic functioning. Found that mental health services were the most frequently recommended service for maltreated children. More than 25 percent of children with serious behavioral problems did…

The scope of school board liability for student misconduct is broadening. The U.S. Supreme Court found that school officials are responsible for student-on-student harassment when they have knowledge of the acts, act with deliberate indifference, and the harassment deprives the victim of access to education. This rationale is consistent with…

Evaluates the preventive effect of an after-school culturally-based arts program with low-income urban children. The specific objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in adaptive functioning and in problem behaviors for program participants. Main findings indicated that the participating children experienced an increase in self-esteem,…

Argues that course syllabi and instructors' presentation of them set a tone for interaction with students. Relates incident in which a student in the author's class disrupted the class by regularly leaving to feed a parking meter. Student's behavior sparked discussions among colleagues regarding ways of presenting syllabi in relation to classroom…

Explored application of mediation approach to resolution of intrafamily disputes between parents and adolescents as a means of preventing child maltreatment. About 90 percent of 50 participating families were able to reach a mediation agreement, and 80 percent of these agreements were adhered to after 2 months. Results indicated considerable…

Describes how one teacher dealt with a rebellious sophomore Honors English student and how they learned to listen to each other. (MG)

This paper reviews the developing merger of behavior analytic and other environmental approaches to child behavior development, and identifies critical issues confronting this area of research and intervention, including a profusion of terms, a need for more precise descriptive and experimental analyses, and conceptual integration of findings of…

This article investigates cognitive decline and depressive symptomatology among older adults with mental retardation. A pilot study of assessment instruments is reported. Findings reveal that decreasing cognitive ability is associated with higher rates of observed depression and reported behavioral problems. Cognitive decline was associated with…

Reports on the results of a questionnaire survey of teachers' attitudes towards 16 selected undesirable behaviors carried out in all of the 79 state primary schools in Malta and Gozo. Ranks the behaviors indicated. Finds that the teacher's sex was a significant moderator of attitudes towards a number of behaviors. (KO)