The study investigated the effects of interspersing known items during spelling instruction on new words for three moderately to severely mentally retarded male students (ages 19 to 24). Results showed that high density reinforcement did facilitate performance over baseline; however, interspersal training was superior to the other conditions in…

Summarizes three experiments examining the ways that various forms of feedback influence children's progress in learning to tell time through computer-based training. The experiments compared different forms of feedback as well as delays in their presentations. Reviews related literature and includes statistical and tabular data. (MJP)

Proper transitions between instructional units are necessary to run physical education classes effectively and minimize student behavior problems. This paper describes the design of a middle school time management plan that included positive reinforcement (public posting and physical activity reinforcement). (SM)

Nine textbooks used in applied behavior analysis courses for future teachers of students with disabilities were examined to determine how concepts of positive behavioral support were treated. The study found that, although many of these concepts and practices were discussed in the texts, none promoted the approach as a holistic philosophy for…

A study of 4 youths (ages 11-18) with autism examined the effectiveness of teaching appropriate affective behavioral responses. Participants were described by teachers as having flat and inappropriate affect. Treatment consisted of modeling, prompting, and reinforcement. The combination of an error-correction procedure and contingent delivery of…

This article reviews research on peer-mediated social-skills training strategies used with children with autism, including arranging situations or contingencies to promote optimal peer effort, teaching methods to peers for reinforcing target skills in children with autism, teaching strategies to peers for initiating interactions, and teaching…

Presents theories of motivation classified as those dealing either with exogenous causes or with endogenous processes. The following strategies for improving work motivation are discussed: (1) personal motives; (2) incentives and rewards; (3) reinforcement; (4) goal-setting techniques; (5) personal and material resources; (6) social and group…

Describes a microcomputer-based procedure that used a digitized graphics tablet to teach letter formation skills to moderately and severely retarded students aged 8-19. Handwriting instruction is discussed; modeling of the letters, corrective feedback, and reinforcement techniques are explained; and results of pretests and posttests are…

Meta-analysis was used to assess the effect of metacognitive instruction on reading comprehension. Twenty studies from the reading research literature were compiled and quantitatively synthesized. Results affirm the effectiveness of metacognitive strategies, especially for junior high school students. Textual inconsistency awareness,…

Reviews an ethnographic study of female students in full-time secretarial courses in a college of non-advanced further education (NAFE) in England. The study explores the role of schooling in the transmission and maintenance of social inequalities and finds that classroom life encourages student conformity. (AF)

Two studies involving three adolescents with severe emotional disturbance/behavior disorders and learning difficulties examined effects of problem difficulty and reinforcer quality upon time allocated to two sets of arithmetic problems. Results have implications for understanding the effects of problem difficulty and reinforcer quality on behavior…

A token reinforcement program with microcomputer free time as the reinforcer was implemented to decrease the tardiness of a middle school economically disadvantaged student. The microcomputer time was a very effective reinforcer; school personnel reported improved school attendance and a decrease in administrative discipline related to tardiness;…

Research on a team game designed to reinforce positive target behaviors is reviewed. Classroom organization, reinforcement criteria, when and how long to play the game, and reinforcement for winning teams are discussed, as are two variants on the original game. The game is found to be highly effective in reducing talking and out-of-seat behavior.…

Three preschool boys with autism received social skills training and an intervention that encompassed adult prompting, edible reinforcement contingent on positive exchanges, and self-monitoring of social behaviors. The self-monitoring package increased target children's interactions with peers and/or siblings. School and home procedures produced…

Regular education teachers who have students with disabilities in their classes may face challenging behaviors that have the potential to interfere with the learning process. The article describes some strategies that regular educators can use to successfully handle disruptive or distracting behaviors, focusing on prevention and problem solving.…