A description is provided of a computer-based simulation of an instructional system which adapts the learning environment to the individual's unique attributes for processing information and for being motivated. The main purposes of the simulation are: 1) to introduce, as attributes for individualizing instruction, information processing variables…

The Weber Mental Health Center consultation program to schools is described. The conditions under which children might be directly treated at the center are enumerated, but the essential thrust of the program is to train teachers, administrators, and parents the principles and application of learning theory to the management of children's…

A study was conducted to: (1) assess the equivalence of the Nowicki Strickland Locus of Control Scale for Children, the Stephens-Delys Reinforcement Contingency Interview, and the Gruen-Korte-Stephens test and the construct validity of each; and (2) investigate the impact on IE of the open classroom Follow Through program sponsored by the…

Current trends in reporting and discussing the educational progress of disadvantaged urban children seem to be made without the benefits of recent findings in educational psychology, learning theory, studies of the effects of societal conditions on educational progress, or psychometric procedures. When these recent findings are considered, one…

The problem of a steadily rising crime rate and an apparent inability of existing legal, judicial, and penal procedure to serve as either deterrents to or modifiers of criminal behavior are presented. The point is made that the principles of behavior modification derive primarily from basic research performed within the framework of the…

A report of 1 phase of a larger cross-cultural project, this paper is primarily concerned with the interrelated influences of perceived parental support and social class origins on the educational plans of comparable populations of American high school seniors and Norwegian "ungdomskole" students. The data was obtained via a…

Four experiments focused on ways children could be trained to imitate others in imposing on themselves higher performance standards in game situations. The study also attempted to determine whether this internal achievement motivation behavior would be transferred by the children to situations such as learning in a classroom. The subjects were 122…

Presented in the second volume of a series emanating from a conceptual project on emotional disturbance are six papers on general aspects of interventions as well as biophysical, behavioral, psychodynamic, environmental, and counter theoretical interventions. In an "Overview of Interventions", W. Rhodes discusses a framework for viewing…

The study examined the effects of physical fitness training and reinforcement on the maladaptive behaviors of five institutionalized mentally retarded/emotionally disturbed adults. Results showed a dramatic decrease of target behavior during intervention phases and a clear increase during the baseline and maintenance phases. (Author/JDD)

An approach to assessment is described that allows students to understand and help decide the criteria for good work. It is called "negotiable contracting." Negotiable contracting consists of giving students shared ownership in their own learning. The teacher serves as a facilitator of discussion of the assessment process. Students and the…

This monograph provides information on identifying children and youth who could benefit from social skills instruction, highlights strategies for teaching social skills, and presents ideas for reinforcing social competence. After a chapter that introduces the issues, Chapter 2, "Social Competence," defines social competence and discusses…

This book, prepared in response to a request from the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, reviews the published literature on positive behavior interventions and uses this database to provide four main content areas for research. Positive behavior support (PBS) is defined as an approach for dealing with…

The present study was a cross-sectional examination of the causes of adolescent participation in risky behaviors, using a diverse sample of adolescents from a Midwestern state. This research compared the relative effects of a traditional explanation of deviant behavior, differential association theory, with a modern derivative, nonsocial…

The paper defines and discusses various social learning theories. Central to most theories of how an individual acquires socially acceptable behaviors are the processes of imitation, or observational learning, and identification, or modeling. The effectiveness of each process is noted. (SB)

A study of 1197 African-Americans involved in a 1999-2001 young adult follow-up evaluation of a school-based intervention, found 54% reported use of physical discipline by caregivers. Lower family income, younger caregiver age, and teacher reports of child aggression were related to reports of caregiver's high use of negative strategies. (Contains…