Identifies how the number of practice and feedback sessions affects the development of select interpersonal communication skills. Finds that acquisition of interpersonal communication skills can be positively affected by the use of behavior modeling that includes video feedback, behavior rehearsal, or a combination of both. (MS)

The article summarizes 12 group sessions intended to decrease inappropriate behavior and increase the self-esteem of 10-12 learning-disabled seventh and eighth graders. Art projects culminating in a group mural were a prominent part of the group activities. (DB)

Presents Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM) of persuasion (a reconceptualization of the social influence process) as alternative model of attitude change. Contends ELM unifies conflicting social psychology results and can potentially account for inconsistent research findings in counseling psychology. Provides guidelines on integrating…

A simple instrument was used to measure both the favorite foods of some rural Southwestern children and their intake of food relevant to cardiovascular health with a view to designing and pilot-testing a culturally appropriate health curriculum. Pilot-testing indicated several significant changes in eating behavior were achieved. (JD)

Examined effects of sugar on behavior of 45 preschool and elementary school children. Provided all children with basic breakfast that included drink containing either 50 g of sucrose, a comparably sweet placebo, or very little sucrose. Found some small behavior changes in high-sucrose group. All effects were small in magnitude and not considered…

Ratings of treatment acceptability were obtained from 20 parents who sought professional assistance in managing their children's behavior. Initially, degree of disruptiveness of a proposed treatment and parental willingness to attempt it were significantly related to acceptability. Once treatment had been attempted, however, its perceived…

Seventeen gifted underachieving students (ages 8-13) were guided through a creative productivity study based on the Enrichment Triad Model. Although a variety of factors contributed to their underachievement, positive gains were made by 82% of the students and most were no longer underachieving in their school setting at the end of the…

Currently there are at least four pretreatment-posttreatment (pre-post) difference score methods for determining client change. A fifth model, based on a random effects model and multiwave data, represents a growth curve approach and was hypothesized to be more sensitive to detecting significant (p<.05) change than pre-post models. Compares…

This paper reviews research on observational learning, including model characteristics and observers' responses, vicarious reinforcement as implicit punishment, vicarious effects on students with problem behavior, observers' other characteristics and vicarious effects, and aggression and vicarious processes. Regular class placement of students…

The purpose of this research was to determine whether an in-school breakfast program would increase attendance and on-task behaviors of male high school students in a vocational high school. The outcomes indicate that an in-school breakfast program had a positive influence on on-task behaviors of the students. (LKS)

A program to decrease unnecessary visits to an elementary school health room involved teachers asking students to visit the health room only for serious problems and urging parents to support the goal of reducing health room visits. Substantial decreases in ambiguous, unidentifiable complaints and health room visits were found following program…

Investigated the relation of change in maternal depressed mood across time and adolescent functioning. Analyses revealed that increased depressed mood across one year predicted teacher reports of higher levels of externalizing and internalizing problems and lower levels of social competence. A static maternal depressive mood did not forecast…

The process of "functional assessment" is recommended to establish a basis for individualized behavior management programing for students with special needs. The approach is based on identifying the functions of the challenging behavior and involves systematically collecting information about the behavior and developing an intervention…

This case study demonstrates the use of functional assessment with a 17-year-old student with severe intellectual disabilities. The case focuses on the importance of identifying setting events associated with problem behaviors and, when these events occur, making appropriate scheduling or programing changes to prevent difficult situations from…

A school-based approach to Positive Peer Culture (PPC) is most successful if integrated into academic curriculum. Examples of incorporating PPC into English, math, social studies, and science show how students can learn to think analytically about PPC's 12 problem areas. (SK)