Token economies often reduce problematic classroom behavior in preschool settings. In the present study, direct observation and teacher ratings of child behavior and treatment acceptability were utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of a token economy in a Head Start classroom. Because many teachers express concerns about the effort required to…

Evaluated the effectiveness of juvenile drug court for 161 juvenile offenders meeting diagnostic criteria for substance abuse or dependence and determined whether the integration of evidence-based practices enhanced the outcomes of juvenile drug court. Over a 1-year period, a four-condition randomized design evaluated outcomes for family court…

With their origins in scientific validation, behavior-analytic applications have understandably been developed with an engineering rather than a crafting orientation. Nevertheless, traditions of craftsmanship can be instructive for devising aesthetically pleasing arrangements--arrangements that people will try, and having tried, will choose to…

Baron and Galizio (2005) reviewed and updated Michael's (1975) observations concerning the problems surrounding the distinction between positive and negative reinforcement. In the end they concluded that the valence is unjustified. However, despite the fact that the logical and empirical underpinnings of the distinction have been questioned for…

Educational experience in the community provides students with moderate and severe intellectual disabilities the opportunity to learn and rehearse skills they need to participate fully in community environments. The degree to which students with intellectual disabilities participate in their communities is often dependent on their ability to…

We tested the effects of a Peer-Yoked Contingency on students' acquisition of observational learning repertoires and collateral effects on naming. Three male middle school participants, diagnosed with emotional and behavioral disabilities, were selected for this study. The three participants did not have naming repertoires, and two of the three…

The Positive Education Program (PEP) in Cuyahoga, Ohio, incorporates a token economy and group process approach into the daily school routine for emotionally disturbed and behaviorally handicapped students. At elementary and secondary levels, minimum rules and expectations as well as privileges awarded for behaviors are clearly set forth. The…

Twelve papers by Iowa school psychologists reflect the profession's focus on assessment and intervention. The following titles and authors are presented: "What to Do When the Whole Swim Team Is Referred" (S. DeKrey); "An Alternative Technique for Reducing a Self-Injurious Behavior in a Profoundly Retarded Male Child" (G. Robinson); "Severe…

In Study one, the effect on stuttering frequency of contingent monetary gain and contingent monetary loss resulted in decreased stuttering. In Study two, monetary gain and loss was made contingent on units of fluent speech. Fluency increased for the group during monetary gain, but monetary loss did not decrease fluency. (Author)

Reviews research literature on the symptomatology, etiology, performanceand behavioral management (drug and behavior modification treatments) of hyperactive children with normal intelligence. Proposes procedure for evaluating treatment effects in natural settings. (ED)

The noncompliant behavior of a severely multihandicapped 6-year-old boy was modified through an antecedent manipulation. Responding to teacher requests within 5 seconds was measured under three conditions: decreased commands, increased commands, and unconditional commands with contingent consequation. A multielement design employed across…

Described is the parent training component of the Severe Personal Adjustment Program for severely emotionally disturbed school-aged children. Among program objectives listed are the following: pinpoint and define behavior (operationally), evaluate situations and environments in which the behavior occurs, specify contingencies presently operating,…

Contingency contracting has been demonstrated to be an effective procedure for achieving weight loss. A problem with this type of contract is that the S may have to permanently forfeit an item for a failure to lose weight when in fact his/her eating behavior has been appropriate. The following procedure was developed to overcome this problem. A…

A multifaceted behavioral treatment program designed to modify noncompliance in five hyperactive preschoolers and to train their parents in techniques of maintaining compliant behavior was implemented. Results indicated that hyperactivity and noncompliance were reduced to normal limits. Parents' use of behavior modification techniques were…