NCJ Number
17430
Date Published
1975
Length
304 pages
Annotation
APPLICATIONS OF OPERANT PRINCIPLES, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION TECHNIQUES, AND MEASUREMENT AND EVALUATION OF PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS APPLIED TO SUCH SETTINGS AS HOSPITALS, INSTITUTIONS, AND SCHOOLS.
Abstract
VARIOUS APPROACHES TOWARD PERSONALITY AND BEHAVIOR, THE IMPACT OF THE MEDICAL MODEL, TYPES OF LEARNING, AND POPULAR MISCONCEPTIONS OF AND OBJECTIONS TO THE APPLICATION OF OPERANT PROCEDURES ARE DETAILED. A DISCUSSION OF METHODOLOGY OF BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS IN TERMS OF ASSESSMENT, EVALUATION, AND EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN IS ALSO PROVIDED. A MAJOR PORTION OF THE TEXT ELABORATES POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT, PUNISHMENT AND NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT, AND EXTINCTION. FOR EACH PRINCIPLE, DIVERSE TECHNIQUE OPTIONS, DIMENSIONS WHICH DICTATE PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS, LIMITATIONS, AND SALIENT ISSUES ARE REVIEWED. APPLICATIONS OF SELF-CONTROL AND ISSUES AND TECHNIQUES PERTAINING TO RESPONSE MAINTENANCE AND TRANSFER OF TRAINING AFTER A BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROGRAM IS WITHDRAWN ARE CONSIDERED. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE ETHICAL ISSUES IMPLICIT IN THE USE OF A BEHAVIOR CHANGE TECHNOLOGY IN GENERAL AND WITH RESPECT TO CONTROVERSIAL TREATMENT PROCEDURES. A GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS USED IN THE TEXT IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)