A community psychiatric team intimately involved themselves in evaluative research predicting the significant reduction of dysfunctional client behaviors. Following completion of the study team members responded to a 26 item Staff Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ) determining clinicians' feelings of competence, attitudes about research, and acceptance of the behavioral approach adopted during the project. The responses on the SAQ indicated the team members (1) began to feel competent in coping with and changing client behaviors, (2) expressed favorable attitudes regarding evaluative research and (3) had accepted and adopted the behavioral model in their daily clinical practice after the project was completed. It was concluded that program research which closely involves clinicians in the planning and evaluation stages is likely to lead to changes in clinical practice. (Author)