Control of environments in which problem behaviors in mother-child interactions take place appears necessary if reliable measurement of those behaviors is to result. Investigation of situational variables should advance the behavior modification technology in general. One methodological approach towards such control is presented. It focuses on definition of those spatial and logistical properties common to the daily environments in which problem behaviors occur. Standardized laboratory situations were derived from mothers' reports of difficulties in managing their children, from study of the environments in which the difficulties typically took place, and from study of the behavior modification results of a pilot project involving 8 mother-child pairs. After the pilot study, 10 additional mother-child pairs were placed in standardized environments as an integral part of their modification program. Both the development and present uses of these laboratory analogs of problem-producing environments in daily life are presented with data showing their potential contribution to applied and conceptual efforts in understanding parent-child interaction. (Author/DP)