We evaluated a strategy for making highly nonpreferred work duties more preferred as a potential means of enhancing work enjoyment among supervisors in a human service setting. Repeated preference ratings and rankings were completed by 4 supervisors during baseline to identify their most disliked work tasks. These tasks were then altered by…

Indices of happiness and unhappiness were defined, and a corresponding observation system was developed and implemented with five students in an adult education classroom. Results indicate the definitions and the observation system reliably identified frequencies of happiness and/or unhappiness indices for each student across separate activities.…

This study attempted to operationalize, measure, and increase happiness among five adults with profound mental and physical disabilities. Happiness indices were defined and observed. Most preferred stimuli-produced increases in happiness indices, and practitioner ratings of participant happiness coincided with observed indices. Discussion focuses…

A study of three adults with profound mental retardation investigated the effects of using systematically assessed preferred stimuli versus staff opinion-based preferred stimuli on increasing happiness indices. Preferred stimuli based on preference assessments were more consistently accompanied by increased happiness indices than were preferred…

Effects of supported work versus center-based program services were evaluated with four adults with multiple severe disabilities. Results found most participants displayed more alert and active behavior and were involved in more purposeful activity in supported work than in center-based programs. Differences in expectations and staff competence…