bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Using a token economy in a community‐based residential program for disabled adults: An empirical evaluation leads to program modification
Authors: Stocks J. Timothy , Thyer Bruce A. , Kearsley Mariann 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe effects of an existing token reinforcement program upon the acquisition and maintenance of independent living skills of 12 disabled adults in two halfway houses were investigated. Tokens (points) were used to purchase advancement up a step/level system, pay daily “rent,” and purchase curfew extensions. Tokens were effective in maintaining independent living skill behaviors. However, hearing clients showed a decrease in independent living skill behaviors over the course of the program, while hearing impaired clients showed no change. This paradoxical finding appeared to be the result of inadvertant program contingencies that allowed a decrease in desired behaviors as subjects advanced to higher steps. The authors discuss how the program would be modified to increase behaviors associated with independent living skills.
Assessing teaching opportunities in a residential treatment facility
Authors: McGuire Patricia S. , Vanburen Pat , Alger Kathleen , Thomas Don R. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractSeventeen living units in a residential treatment facility for developmentally disabled persons were assessed to determine the availability of teaching opportunities during the course of a normal day's routine. Teaching opportunities exist when the environment is arranged so that residents can participate in the ongoing activities. The teaching opportunities are identified within components that are recognizable activities that occur routinely and have a functional purpose. An assessment form was constructed as a means for documenting teachng opportunities. Assessments were conducted continuously from early morning through evening activities. The results of the assessments suggested that two approaches to resident care were in operation at the facility: one was characterized by a traditional care/custodial model, the other was characterized by a teaching model. On units where the number of teaching opportunities available was high, there was a smaller percentage of unstructured time, i.e., blocks of time when opportunities to engage in structured activities were not available to the residents.
The rate and amount of food intake as determinants of vomiting
Authors: Azrin Nathan H. , Jamner Jacques P. , Besalel Victoria A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractVomiting of nonmedical origin by retarded persons has been found to be greatly influenced by reinforcement procedures. To explicate the possible influence of the rate and amount of food intake, a satiation procedure and a spaced‐eating procedure were provided to three profoundly retarded adults with this problem. Vomiting was found to double or triple after satiation for each subject, and to decrease during spaced eating for each subject; the decrease was especially great for the two subjects who learned to eat most slowly after extended spaced eating training. These results suggest that vomiting is caused in large part by excessive stomach loading and can be effectively treated by reducing the eating rate and/or amount of food intake. This generalization may also apply to infants and to the bulimic binge‐purge cycle of nonretarded adults.
Visual screening as a reductive procedure: An examination of generalization and duration
Authors: Clauser Brian , Gould Kevin 
Published: June 2007

AbstractVisual screening procedures have been shown to be effective in reducing a variety of topographically dissimilar responses displayed by developmentally disabled subjects. The procedure requires that a blindfold or bib be placed over the subjects eyes contingent on a target response. The screening procedure continues for a specified duration, usually under three minutes. Because target responses may occur during screening, the release from screening becomes contingent on the subject remaining target response free for the specified period. The present study replicates previous reports by showing the effectiveness of this procedure in reducing self‐injury displayed by an adult developmentally disabled women. It extends the available data by presenting information on the actual duration of screening required before the contingent release criterion was met. It also outlines a specific approach for generalization. Results show that the procedure was highly effective in reducing self‐injury. Successful generalization was accomplished across additional times, settings, and staff. Data on the duration of screening show a clear downward trend across applications.
Community behavior management: Characteristics of service‐providers, behaviors treated, and restrictive procedures used
Authors: Ryall Colleen , Miller Nancy Urban 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA statewide survey of behavior management services provided to mentally retarded residents of community group homes was conducted. Results revealed that services were generally provided by on‐staff behavior therapists with bachelor's degrees. Aggression, inappropriate verbal behavior, noncompliance, property destruction, and tantrumming appeared on treatment caseloads most often. Restrictive procedures used most frequently were: token economy, extinction, simple restitution, response cost, and graduated guidance. Questions are raised concerning governing regulations and monitoring of community behavior management services as well as the role of group homes in Pennsylvania.
Prevalence of multiple problem behaviors in institutionalized nonambulatory profoundly mentally retarded children
Authors: Dura Jason R. , Mulick James A. , Myers Eric G. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractDeinstitutionalization has resulted in increasing degrees of mental and physical handicap in the populations served by residential care facilities. Previous research has linked increasing levels of handicap with increased risk of problem behaviors. The present study examines the prevalence of multiple problem behaviors in a residential center specializing in serving the needs of the most profoundly handicapped subgroup of children with mental retardation. The subjects were 51 male and 50 female (mean age = 13 years) children who were nonambulatory and profoundly mentally retarded. Prevalence of problematic behaviors are reported along with the risk of injury to self and others posed by the behaviors. The prevalence of problematic behaviors are discussed relative to changing patterns in institutional populations and the subsequent challenge regarding habilitative programming efforts.
Program evaluation of a comprehensive treatment package for mentally retarded offenders
Authors: Losada‐Paisey Gloria , Paisey Timothy J. H. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA comprehensive, behaviorally‐engineered residential treatment program for adult mentally retarded offenders, operated by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Retardation, is described and evaluated. This secure facility, the Rehabilitation and Intensive Treatment Environment (RITE Unit), was located on the grounds of a large state‐operated institution. A full‐time equivalent of 19 professional and paraprofessional staff served a maximum of six participants within this time‐limited treatment program. Treatment of paraphilic and other offender behaviors over a one‐and‐a‐half year period included formal academic and vocational training, sex education, a unit token economy, and individual behavior therapy including sexual reconditioning. A comprehensive array of residential program services was also provided. Supported competitive employment, fading of program structure, and increased community participation were successively introduced. Of the seven persons admitted to the program, three attained the program goal of unsupervised community participation, while another two achieved significant progress. Abrupt administrative reorganization precluded assessment of maintenance and generalization of self‐control skills. However, results suggested that comprehensive behavioral treatment can effectively meet the needs of adult mentally retarded offenders, and corroborate the findings reported by G. C. Denkowski and his co‐workers (e.g., Denkowski & Denkowski. 1986) for younger groups.
Post‐treatment effects of token reinforcement, verbal praise, and self‐monitoring in a residential psychiatric program
Authors: Fuoco Frederick J. , Lawrence P. Scott , Vernon Janice B. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe present study was designed to investigate the effects of token reinforcement, verbal praise, and self‐monitoring on post‐treatment performance of bedroom preparation tasks by adult clients in a residential psychiatric program. Twenty‐four clients were randomly assigned to six experimental conditions (four subjects per condition) as follows: (1) contingent token reinforcement, (2) contingent verbal praise, (3) contingent token reinforcement plus contingent verbal praise, (4) self‐monitoring, (5) self‐monitoring plus contingent token reinforcement, and (6) control. All participants were exposed to a one week initial baseline period, then one week of their experimental condition, and finally, one week of a second baseline period. Research participants who received contingent token reinforcement engaged in bedroom‐area preparation tasks significantly less during the second baseline period of the study than during the initial baseline period. Verbal praise, however, produced a significant increase in performance from Baseline 1 to Baseline 2. The presence of both contingent token reinforcement and verbal praise produced a significant increase in performance during the second baseline period as compared to the control condition. This increase, however, was not found with concomitant token reinforcement and self‐monitoring. Changes in performance from Baseline 1 to Baseline 2 for participants assigned to the token reinforcement plus self‐monitoring condition were not significantly different from those found for participants assigned to the control condition. Implications of these results for clinical settings using token economies are presented.
A paramorphic representation of the acceptability of behavioral programming
Authors: Spreat Scott , Lipinski David , Dickerson Rick , Nass Robert , Dorsey Michael F. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractVignette methodology was used to assess factors associated with decisions regarding treatment acceptability. Three hundred and eleven professionals who worked with persons with mental retardation completed questionnaires on the restrictiveness of 12 procedures and on the acceptability of four unique vignettes. Treatment Acceptability was found to be a function of the subjective restrictiveness of the proposed procedure, the prognosis of the treatment program, the past use of other treatment procedures, and the likelihood of side effects. Acceptability from a Human Rights Committee perspective was seen to be a function of the restrictiveness of the proposed procedure, the prognosis, the use of other procedures, the target behavior severity, and the likelihood of side effects.
The use of brief restraint plus reinforcement to treat self‐injurious behavior
Authors: Konarski Edward A. , Johnson Moses R. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThis study evaluated the use of brief arm restraint plus differential reinforcement of alternative behavior to treat the self‐injurious behavior of two residents with multiple handicaps and profound mental retardation. The study took place in a nursing home and sessions were conducted for 15 minutes, Monday through Friday. The design contained both multiple baseline and reversal components. Mean levels of self‐injurious behavior and stripping for one client were reduced from 92 to 16% and 81 to 2%, respectively, by the treatment. Her appropriate behavior increased from a mean of 18% in baseline to 100% in treatment. The second client's self‐injurious behavior averaged 39% in baseline, but was reduced to a mean of 9% in treatment. His throwing decreased from a mean of 54% prior to treatment to a mean of 2%, while appropriate object manipulation increased from 26 to 99%. These data support the use of brief restraint plus reinforcement for decelerating severe self‐injurious behaviors and accelerating appropriate behaviors in adults with profound mental retardation. The advantages of this treatment are that it appears to be less intrusive and to offer more educational benefits than other commonly used techniques.
Student learning as the basis for reinforcement to the instructor
Authors: Azrin Nathan H. , Jamner Jacques P. , Besalel Victoria A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractThe present study reinforced the two instructors of two students with profound mental retardation first for the instructors' training behaviors, then for improved student learning in a multiple baseline across responses design. Reinforcement of the instructors' training behaviors increased their training behaviors, replicating the findings of previous studies, but had no effect on student learning. When the reinforcement for the instructors was instead made contingent upon student learning, the student learning improved and the instructors' high level of training behaviors was maintained. In addition, the instructors began to request training for themselves. These findings suggest that staff motivation programs for instructors might usefully base the reinforcers not only on the instructor's performance, but on the progress of their students.
An anger‐control intervention with aggressive delinquent youths
Authors: Hains Anthony A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractSocial problem‐solving skills, a self‐instructional procedure, and a “thinking‐ahead” procedure were taught to institutionalized, aggressive, delinquent adolescents as part of an anger‐control intervention package. A multiple baseline design across four subjects and an alternating‐treatments design were used. The effects of intervention were assessed on problem‐solving ability, use of self‐guiding verbalizations for coping with anger provoking situations, reported frequency of anger‐control behaviors relative to loss of anger‐control incidents, and behavioral progress within the institution. All youths showed improvement during the training of problem solving on hypothetical dilemmas, with some generalization to untrained problems. Follow‐up data on some youths suggested maintenance of treatment gains. Three of the youths displayed increased usage of self‐instructions and thinking‐ahead statements during personal anger‐provoking situations. All youths displayed an increase in self‐reported anger‐control behaviors relative to loss of anger‐control. Improvements in behavior outside of the therapy sessions were indicated by positive behavioral progress within the institution.
Evaluating a ward staff program for increasing spontaneous and varied communicative gesturing with individuals who are mentally retarded
Authors: Seys Daniel , Kersten Henk , Duker Pieter 
Published: June 2007

AbstractIn the present study we assessed the effect of a multifaceted program for ward staff members, which was intended to have severely/profoundly mentally retarded individuals improve their use of communicative gestures. The program consisted of instruction, verbal and visual (publicly posted) graphic feedback. There were two categories of dependent variables. The first category involved the number of gesture prompts by staff, number of unused opportunities to evoke gestures, and number of consequences given for gestures. The second category involved handicapped individuals' number of prompted gestures, number of spontaneous gestures, and number of different gestures. Results show that the program was effective with regard to all these variables. Changes in the number of spontaneous gestures were especially remarkable, as this variable had not been influenced directly. Follow‐up data underline the effectiveness of the program.
Case study: Use of propranolol to reduce aggressive behavior in a woman who is mentally retarded
Authors: Calamari John E. , McNally Richard J. , Benson David S. , Babington Colleen M. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAlthough neuroleptic medications are frequently used to treat the aggressive behavior of persons with mental retardation, little empirical support exists for their efficacy. In the case study reported here, the beta‐blocker propranolol was used to treat the aggressive behavior of a 23‐year‐old woman with severe mental retardation. Initiation of treatment was correlated with a dramatic decrease in aggression and a less pronounced improvement in self‐injurious behavior (SIB). An increase in resting heart‐rate was associated with a significant increase in aggression, and progressive increases in propranolol dosage were correlated with reductions in heart rate and in significant behavioral improvement. Consideration of propranolol as a less intrusive, and possibly more effective, pharmacologic treatment for the aggressive behavior of persons with mental retardation is discussed.
Case study: Improving the social interactions of a group home resident with severe and multiple disabilities
Authors: Gardner Ralph , Heward William L. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA 43‐year‐old man with severe mental retardation and sensory impairments and a long history of behavior problems was taught to interact more appropriately with staff members at his community‐based group home. The following behaviors were targeted for change within a multiple baseline design: use of an appropriate cueing response to initiate a conversation; keeping his hands to himself when conversing with another; and not ‘badgering’ people by repeating the same question over and over. Instructions and feedback produced small, unstable improvements in the subject's behavior. When token reinforcement was added to the treatment package, large and immediate improvements were noted. The improved levels of social interactions were maintained after token reinforcement was withdrawn, suggesting the operation of naturally occurring contingencies of reinforcement.
Brief report: Non‐intrusive operant analysis of aggressive behavior in persons with mental retardation
Authors: Paisey Timothy J. H. , Whitney Robert B. , Hislop Pamela M. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractA procedure for operant analysis of aggressive behavior was derived from multi‐element assessment methods that have been previously applied to both self‐injurious and stereotypic responding. Analog sessions included No Interaction Baseline, Social Disapproval, Demand, Social Reinforcement, and Discriminated Extinction conditions, repeatedly presented within a multi‐element design. Three men with differing severity of mental retardation, communicative deficits and aggressive behavior were exposed to multiple brief analog sessions embedded within their normal meal‐time routines in group home settings. Mean frequencies of aggressive behavior and concurrent eating indicate that, while aggressive behavior was negatively reinforced in all three participants, both social and non‐social contingencies were also prominent. The same contingencies which have been demonstrated to maintain self‐injury and stereotypic behavior can therefore also maintain aggression. Results suggest the feasibility of conducting relatively non‐intrusive analog assessments in community residences, and support the‐extension of functional analysis across differing classes of aberrant behavior.
Conversational skills training with a chronically hospitalized psychiatric inpatient
Authors: Curran James P. , Himadi Bill , Donahue‐Bennett Donna 
Published: June 2007

AbstractWhile conversational skills training has been conducted with select psychiatric populations, it has rarely been used with severely debilitated inpatients. The purpose of this study was to use a multiple baseline design across conversational components to evaluate the effectiveness of a conversational skills training package to enhance the conversational repertoire of a severely impaired inpatient. Audiotaped conversations with a standard confederate were evaluated for the frequency of questions, self‐disclosures, and reinforcing/acknowledging comments. Generalization probe conversations to novel partners were also obtained. Training effects were noted for the 3 conversational units. Mixed results were obtained for generalization and follow‐up.
Aversive procedures: The minnesota experience
Authors: Nord Gerald , Wieseler Norman A. , Hanson Ronald H. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractAversive and deprivation procedures for controlling and reducing challenging behaviors have received increasing attention. Many states have adopted guidelines on the use of these procedures treating persons with developmental disabilities. The Minnesota state rule promulgated in October, 1987 requires reviews from both local and state‐wide review committees on permitted, but controlled procedures. Data generated from state‐wide committees revealed that (a) state operated regional treatment centers (RTCs) employed individual habilitative training programs with controlled procedures more frequently than community‐based agencies (b) a higher proportion of RTC submissions were for treatment of self‐injury than submissions from community services, and (c) RTCs had a higher usage of mechanical restraints than community facilities with both services settings using manual restraints more frequently than all other controlled procedures combined. Reasons for the above differences in the two service settings were discussed.
Analysis of public verbal feedback as a staff management procedure
Authors: Wilson Philip G. , Reid Dennis H. , Korabek‐Pinkowski Cynthia A. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractWe evaluated public verbal feedback as a potentially effective and efficient means of improving institutional staff performance. Following baseline observations of the self‐help training conducted by three groups of direct care staff with clients who had profound mental retardation, verbal feedback was presented publicly to individual staff during routine staff meetings. The feedback addressed the (in)frequency of the staffs training endeavors and required only a few minutes to present. Results indicated that each group of staff increased their client training when the public verbal feedback was provided. Probes of client self‐help skills indicated that as the frequency of staff‐conducted training increased, client skill acquisition improved. Generalization measures indicated that staff increased only those work behaviors for which they received feedback. Results are discussed regarding the efficiency of public verbal feedback as a means of improving staff performance, as well as the need for research to continue expanding and refining a technology of staff management.
The effect of timeout duration on frequency of aggression in hospitalized children with conduct disorders
Authors: McGuffin Patrick W. 
Published: June 2007

AbstractTimeout has been shown to be an effective procedure in the treatment of aggressive behaviors. Previous research, however, has not provided evidence to support the use of a particular timeout duration in the treatment of aggressive behavior. This study compared the effectiveness of four different timeout durations (1, 5, 10, and 20 min) in the treatment of aggressive behavior in hospitalized children with conduct disorders. Results did not support the use of extended periods of timeout, but suggested that 5 min duration was as or more effective than the other tested durations.