Films function as a persuasive process in that they bring about a reinforcement or change in attitude, belief, or behavior by producing a cognitive restructuring of the audience's frame of reference. Organized research into the effects of films falls into two categories: macro-media studies exploring the way films reflect the psychological…

Guidelines are offered on the technique of establishing understanding between pupil, teacher, and parent by formal and informal conferences. Means of establishing goals for individual students are suggested, and methods of evaluating performance are given. The importance of communication between parent and teacher by means of conferences and…

Approaches to organizational change are examined, and the means for overcoming resistance to change are suggested. Seven models of change commonly used are identified as: (1) decree; (2) replacement of personnel; (3) structural reorganization; (4) group agreement; (5) data discussion; (6) group problem solving; and (7) T group. The sixth change…

The trainers guide was developed to facilitate the implementation of four inservice training modules by local educational agency personnel. The modules are separate but an overview and descriptions of audience, objectives, organization and process are provided for (1) school/community relations, (2) vocational education, (3) teaching methods, (4)…

The questionnaire in a study of perceived mass media effects included nine statements about the possible negative effects of the mass media, to which respondents could agree, disagree, or indicate "no opinion," and an open-ended question that asked the subjects what effects the mass media had on them personally. Most of the 340…

The study examined the effectiveness of teaching self-management of classroom on-task behavior to four mentally retarded/emotionally disturbed children (6-9 years old). Also explored were the effects of procedures on disruptive behavior, task performance, and task accuracy. Following baseline, a standard token program was instituted. After…

Background music has significant implications for the teaching-learning process in special education. Unobtrusive or background music is a powerful medium which can accentuate, maintain or attentuate overt behaviors in response to conscious sensory stimuli, and special educators could use music as a tool to increase the effectiveness and…

Rhetorical activity is fundamental to the process of psychotherapy. This paper discusses a study of the consistent use of rhetorical strategies in distinctly different forms of psychotherapy as an initial step in analyzing the effectiveness or failure of therapeutic situations. The data for this two-part study consisted of eleven hours of…

Major problem areas in evaluating token economies for psychiatric inpatients are identified and discussed. Three categories of methodological deficiencies frequently encountered in the token economy literature are described: (1) inadequate specification of treatment procedures; (2) insufficient or inadequately described dependent measures; and (3)…

The impulsivity-reflexivity dimension of cognitive style is a variable that significantly affects a learning/teaching situation. Previous investigations have suggested, for example, that learners with an impulsive cognitive style are at a disadvantage in problem-solving situations. This review focuses on investigations into four specific…

This study explores the possibilities of graphotherapy, which uses handwriting analysis and instruction to change or improve such character traits as self-concept. Three fourth-grade classes were involved, one as the experimental group and the other two as controls. A pretest ascertained self-concept, as well as physical handwriting changes that…

This book is a teacher's guide for dealing with and modifying childrens' behavior. Chapter one discusses behavior and how it is strengthened, weakened, or shaped by consequences of the behavior (rewarding, ignoring, punishing). Chapters two and three present techniques which can be used to strengthen desirable behaviors and weaken undesirable…

This is the participant's book for a teacher training program in behavior analysis, called Classroom and Instructional Management, and developed by the Central Midwestern Regional Educational Laboratory. Unit 1 introduces the field of behavior analysis. It contains examples of behaviors and provides solutions for changing the behavior. Unit 2…

Twenty-two subjects were asked to generate fifty numbers from 0 to 100 at ten second intervals. These subjects were then taught to imagine a pleasant scene or an aversive scene on cue from the experimenter. After practice imagining these scenes, subjects were again requested to give fifty numbers between 0 and 100. Group I was cued to imagine the…

The author considers group therapy as one of the most appropriate approaches to help psychotic patients, especially schizophrenics. He advocates the formation of four graded groups of patients based on the seriousness of their problems. The first is an intake group formed of newly admitted patients. Interaction in a group situation provides the…