摘要:

Establishing a functional relationship between the independent and the dependent variable is the primary focus of applied behavior analysis. Accurate and reliable description and observation of both the independent and dependent variables are necessary to achieve this goal. Although considerable attention has been focused on ensuring the integrity of the dependent variable in the operant literature, similar effort has not been directed at ensuring the integrity of the independent variable. Inaccurate descriptions of the application of the independent variable may threaten the reliability and validity of operant research data. A survey of articles in theJournal of Applied Behavior Analysisdemonstrated that the majority of articles published do not use any assessment of the actual occurrence of the independent variable and a sizable minority do not provide operational definitions of the independent variable. The feasibility and utility of ensuring the integrity of the independent variable is described.

ISSN:0021-8855    

DOI:10.1901/jaba.1982.15-477

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1982

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

This study evaluated contingent reinforcement for benzodiazepine‐free urines as a therapeutic intervention for promoting reduced use of supplemental benzodiazepine drugs among methadone maintenance outpatients. Ten methadone maintenance patients were selected for participation on the basis of positive urinalysis results. During a 12‐week intervention period these patients were offered clinic privileges, including monetary payments or methadone take‐home doses, contingent on benzodiazepine negative urinalysis test results. Eight of ten participants responded to the intervention with at least 2.5 weeks of consecutive clean urines. An increase in benzodiazepine‐negative tests during the contingent reinforcement period was significant for the group as a whole. The results suggest that more widespread application of contingent reinforcement procedures may be warranted in drug abuse treatment

ISSN:0021-8855    

DOI:10.1901/jaba.1982.15-493

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1982

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

This study implemented and evaluated a training program (a written manual, videotaped models, rehearsal, role plays, and performance feedback) designed to teach five subjects the skills to become effective family therapists. The study examined the therapists' use of three target behaviors: instructing, informing, and praising. The therapists, each paired with a parent and a preschool‐aged child (2 1/2–4 1/2 yr old), were trained in the clinic to use, and to teach to the parents, several behavioral skills (e.g., praising, planned ignoring, and time‐out) relevant to teaching children compliance to parental instructions. A multiple‐baseline design across triads (therapist/parent/child) demonstrated that after the training program was instituted, the therapists increased their rates of instructing, praising, and informing the parents; all parents increased attention to compliance, decreased attention to noncompliance, and increased rates of praise to their children; and all children increased their compliance and decreased their noncom

ISSN:0021-8855    

DOI:10.1901/jaba.1982.15-505

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1982

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Responding to administrative staff and parental concerns, using modified reversal and withdrawal designs, two experiments evaluated a staff‐managed feedback system to improve the hygiene and developmental skills of children in an infant/toddler center. Experiment 1 examined feedback designed to increase staff performance in checking and changing diapers, and recording those changes. A chart plus supervisory feedback produced increases in and maintenance of staff performance. Experiment 2 compared an existing staff management system with a “playchart” plus feedback in increasing careprovider‐infant stimulation. The data (with follow‐up on a new staff) supported the use of the new feedback system. Questionnaire data further supported the utility of the playcha

ISSN:0021-8855    

DOI:10.1901/jaba.1982.15-521

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1982

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

There has been little research on the effects of the many procedural variables in applied group contingencies. In the present study, an individualized contingency and three group contingencies with different “responder” criteria (e.g., reward based on the group average, reward based on the work of a designated, low‐achieving student, or reward based on the work of a randomly selected student) were applied to the academic work of primary grade children in a learning disabilities classroom. Group social interaction during each contingency was measured systematically. Although there were large individual differences in students' academic and social responses to the different contingencies, some consistent effects were observed. Two of the four low‐achieving target students did their best academic work during the group contingency which focused on their performance as a designated responder. This type of contingency also produced high levels of positive social interaction in three of four groups of children o

ISSN:0021-8855    

DOI:10.1901/jaba.1982.15-533

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1982

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Except for a few studies, most research investigating correspondence training procedures has been more analogue in nature. The purpose of the present set of studies was to examine whether a “say‐do” correspondence training technique could be used with children in special education classes to improve classroom behavior. The specific behaviors targeted for change included: out‐of‐seat behavior (Experiment 1), sitting posture (Experiment 2), and on‐task behavior (Experiment 3). The say‐do procedure used in Experiment 1 resembled that of previous studies, whereas that in Experiment 2 was more elaborate in the specificity of verbal statements required from the children and the feedback given them. The training procedure in Experiment 3 used a format similar to the say‐do approach, but stressed visual rather than verbal cuing because it was used with nonverbal children. All three studies used single‐subject designs and examined maintenance and/or generalization questions. Experiments 2 and 3 also evaluated whether concomitant changes in performance on academic tasks occurred. The results of the three studies provide strong evidence that correspondence training can be effectively used with educationally handicapped children. Moreover, the successful modification of the “say‐do” to a “show‐do” procedure in Experiment 3 points out the flexibility of the cor

ISSN:0021-8855    

DOI:10.1901/jaba.1982.15-545

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1982

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Several diurnal audible teeth grinding (bruxism) was found to affect 21.5% of a profoundly retarded population. However, no previous research has treated bruxism in retarded individuals. In the current study a multiple baseline across subjects design was used to assess the effectiveness of contingent “icing,” brief contingent tactile applications of ice, as a treatment for bruxism. Three 15‐minute treatment periods and two 5‐minute generalization periods were conducted 5 days per week. One resident displayed a 95% reduction in the percentage of intervals during which bruxism occurred during treatment periods and a 67 % reduction during generalization periods. The other resident displayed a 94% reduction in the percentage of intervals during which bruxism occurred during treatment periods and a 53% reduction during generalization

ISSN:0021-8855    

DOI:10.1901/jaba.1982.15-565

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1982

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

Passive smoking has been shown to be hazardous to the health of nonsmokers. Given this documented link between exposure to smoke‐filled environments and deleterious health consequences, there is a need to develop effective procedures that establish and maintain no‐smoking areas in various public settings. The present study focused on decreasing cigarette smoking in a section of a university cafeteria. Posting of no‐smoking signs was found to decrease levels of smoking only minimally. However, when smokers were verbally prompted not to smoke, in the presence of the signs, marked decreases in smoking occurred in the target

ISSN:0021-8855    

DOI:10.1901/jaba.1982.15-573

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1982

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0021-8855    

DOI:10.1901/jaba.1982.15-578

出版商:Blackwell Publishing Ltd    

年代:1982

数据来源: WILEY