Analysis of regular classroom behaviors of 13 behaviorally disordered males (grades three to five and 13 controls revealed that 10 behaviors (e.g., social interaction/teacher, directions, out-of-seat) accounted for 81 percent of variance in group membership. Child behaviors as well as child and teacher behaviors combined produced significant…

Parent and teacher ratings of 141 middle-school children were collected using the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated a low degree of relationship between parent and teacher ratings. The lack of agreement in identifying children as either mildly deviant or highly deviant suggests rating subjectivity.…

A survey of 323 studies in behavioral disorders/emotional disturbance was conducted to determine the nature and prevalence of identification criteria to select subjects. Findings revealed a divergent picture of the nature of prevalence of behavorial disorders/emotional disturbance, and a lack of consensus regarding standard identification…

The paper presents a rationale for the use of an educational model for meeting the mental health needs of children and youth. Implications of the current federal definition are examined relative to programing needs in academic, social, emotional, psychotic behavior, and career education areas. (Author/CL)

Comparison of attitudes of 60 elementary or middle school students with behavioral disorders and 60 students without BD (all at the elementary or middle school levels) regarding the current and future outcomes of interpersonal interactions found no significant differences between groups regarding positive interactions. However, students with BD…

A study evaluated the effectiveness of progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) as a proactive single-component aggression-reduction intervention for 24 students (ages 6- 9) classified as having emotional disabilities in a day school/treatment program. Students also had histories of aggressive behavior. Results supported PMR as a proactive short-term…

This review analyzes the origin and maintenance of self-injurious behavior, focusing on the areas of operant contingencies, sensory contingencies, and/or biological variables. It discusses definitions, prevalence, and etiology. A hypothesis is forwarded which includes components from both the operant and biological domains to explain the origin of…

The literature on the use of moral discussion groups to promote moral development in young people with behavior disorders is reviewed, and the use of the intervention is analyzed. Limitations and recommendations for applying the approach are discussed. (MSE)

Comparison of results of using the Revised Behavior Problem Checklist to identify mild or highly deviant behavior in 95 children (grades 3 through 6) by two regular education teachers of each child indicated little agreement between teachers. (Author/DB)

Six behavior rating scales used with children with problematic behaviors were reviewed for psychometric soundness of reliability and validity. They are: Behavior Dimensions Rating Scale; Behavior Evaluation Scale; Child Behavior Checklist, Teacher Report Form; Devereux Elementary School Behavior Rating Scale; Revised Behavior Problem Checklist;…

The study examining the effectiveness of a cognitive-behavioral training program with 30 behaviorally disordered adolescents found participating students exhibited fewer aggressive behaviors and demonstrated greater self-control than nonparticipating students. The addition of an incentive for implementing the training strategies did not appear to…

A survey of 82 adolescents with behavioral disorders (BD) and 70 without disabilities found that the BD group reported higher frequencies of sexual and physical abuse, though both groups indicated problems in these areas. Females reported experiencing more abuse than males. (Author/JDD)

A survey of 556 teachers of students with emotional/behavior disorders (E/BD) found they believed that approximately 38% of students had been abused physically or sexually, 41% had been neglected, and 51% had been abused emotionally. Eighty-two percent related that they had reported maltreatment, most often to administrators. (Author/CR)

In assessing future prospects of the field of behavioral disorders, examines two areas: (1) early intervention for prevention and (2) inclusion and preparation of teachers. Discusses the need for increased attention to scientific and data-based decision making in the areas of early intervention and teacher preparation, and the establishment of…

A study of 64 single-subject studies examined effectiveness of social skills intervention with students with emotional or behavioral problems. The results of quantitative synthesis procedures that use a percentage of nonoverlapping data suggest that skills interventions had limited empirical support for their overall effectiveness. Implications…