This study describes how a graduate student in counseling and guidance worked with a team of teachers in implementing a group-contingent reinforcement system with first graders. The group contingencies proved highly effective in increasing the percentage of work completed and reducing disruptive responses. (Author)

The effects of social praise contingent on either usual (conventional) or unusual (unconventional) responses during an object uses task were assessed on measures of generalized creativity in two novel, unrelated tasks. Participants were 20 older adults, ages 63 to 89 years (M = 80.90), who were recruited from a joint skilled nursing and assisted…

With contingency reinforcement, students with externally imposed or self-determined academic standards did comparable work. When contingent reinforcement was dropped in an extinction phase, external imposition subjects tended to outperform self-determination subjects. Experiment serves to demonstrate the utility of self-management as an…

Examines whether substantial increases in the positive interactional ratios of six highly disruptive adolescents would decrease their behavior problems. Results indicate that the intervention significantly decreased behavior problems in the boys as a group. Discusses findings in terms of response-contingent reinforcement and systemic behavior…

A programmed board game, called Family Contract, guides family members through basic steps in interpersonal problem solving. Family members can, in 15 minutes, write a contract that identifies a displeasing problem behavior, describe a pleasing replacement behavior, and arrange contingent reinforcement and recording of pleasing behavior. (Author)

A literature review identified generic and specialized competencies for teachers of learning disabled, emotionally handicapped, and educable mentally handicapped students. Core competencies included teacher-directed instruction, active academic responding, contingent reinforcement, and adaptive instruction. Specialized competencies for each…

A seven-year-old profoundly retarded male was trained to perform 15 of 18 functional tasks via an imitation approach paired with contingent reinforcement. Thirteen tasks were maintained at a high rate during the school year. Also, he developed response alternatives for existing self-stimulatory behaviors. (CL)

A multicomponent treatment package consisting of role playing, graphic feedback, contingent reinforcement, and self-monitoring increased the rate of positive statements among four handicapped high school youth during a social/leisure activity at a work training setting. There was no evidence of generalization to other activities. (Author/DB)

Results indicate equivalent levels of patient performance when contingent reinforcement in a residential token economy program was controlled by either patient peer groups or staff. Patients in a peer-managed program showed positive ward behavior, reductions in psychosocial problems, and increase in potential for adjusting to community life.…

A consumer-related social skills training program using card games, modeling, feedback, contingent reinforcement, and behavior rehearsal was effective in improving the interpersonal skills of four hearing impaired adolescents. Skills included responding to small talk, asking questions, criticizing a product or service, and responding to suggestive…

Maternal vocal imitation of infant vocalizations is highly prevalent during face-to-face interactions of infants and their caregivers. Although maternal vocal imitation has been associated with later verbal development, its potentially reinforcing effect on infant vocalizations has not been explored experimentally. This study examined the…

Research is reviewed on the communicative ability of learning disabled (LD) adolescents and its effects on acceptance by peers. Difficulties are noted in social perception, oral language, and social experience. Suggestions for enhancing communication and social skills include using group-contingent reinforcements and exposing LD students to normal…

A social skills training package including modeling, behavior rehearsal, feedback, and contingent reinforcement on the interpersonal responses of three depressed youth produced changes in specific responses associated with the introduction of treatment in those areas. Natural environment assessments revealed that performance gains generalized to…

An adaptation of incidental teaching procedures was used to teach individually defined language responses to four language-delayed children (4-8 years old). Data showed that frequency of each targeted response increased only during incidental teaching, with most targeted responses produced spontaneously; and the teachers correctly implemented the…

Therapeutic intervention to treat chronic food refusal in two children with multiple developmental disabilities consisted of elimination of feeding "demands" that provoked child agitation, incorporation of sensory stimulation as contingent reinforcement, and gradual introduction of the requirements for oral consumption. Consistent oral…