VARIANT AND INVARIANT HIGH-PROBABILITY REQUESTS: INCREASING APPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS IN CHILDREN WITH EMOTIONAL-BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS

This study examined the effects of variant versus invariant high-probability (high-p) request sequences on the performance of requests to initiate a social bid by young children with emotional-behavioral disorders. In the initial phases of the investigation, a multiple baseline design showed that the delivery of invariant sequences (i.e., high-p requests delivered in the same sequence) produced initial increases in compliance to requests to initiate a social bid to a peer. However, increases were not maintained across the invariant condition. The delivery of variant high-p sequences produced increases in compliance to requests to initiate social bids that were maintained across the variant condition. In a follow-up condition, the number of requests within the pool of the variant and invariant high-p requests were controlled. Results of the follow-up condition replicated those found in the initial condition. Implications for applied use and future research are discussed.     

INCREASING SELF-DETERMINATION: TEACHING PEOPLE WITH MENTAL RETARDATION TO EVALUATE RESIDENTIAL OPTIONS

The community living preferences of 4 institutionalized adults with mild mental retardation were identified using photographs that depicted a variety of residential characteristics. Individuals then were taught to obtain information regarding their preferences during tours of community group homes, to report that information to their social worker, and to evaluate the homes based on the information obtained. A multiple baseline across participants design showed that all 4 participants substantially increased their skills at asking questions, reporting information, and evaluating homes. The results indicate that people with mental retardation can take an active role in major lifestyle decisions that others have typically made for them.     

The role of preparatory muscular tension in the size-weight illusion

Muscle action potentials were recorded from lifting muscles during the foreperiod before lifts of large and small objects when the size-weight illusion occurred. There were increases in tension throughout the foreperiod of both lifts, culminating in a large increase following the instruction to lift. The increases were greater before lifts of the large can, supporting the peripheral theory of comparative weight judgment. The “set to lift” effect was shown to exist in the action potentials before the foreperiod of the second lift when compared to those just prior to the lift of the first can.     

Raising standards of practice in school psychology through the use of field-based training

A model is presented for upgrading school psychology practice in an entire state by raising the level of entry for school psychology certification. A central feature of the plan is that it permits those who currently do not meet the revised standards to participate in a field-based program. This allows them to increase their knowledge and skills so that they may continue to hold positions, but at a higher level of competence. The development of the program, its implementation, and an evaluation of its efforts over a five-year period are presented.     

Effects of the recipient's status and responsiveness on physical pleasuring between heterosexual strangers

Previous research relating status to intimate behavior has demonstrated that persons are more reluctant to initiate physical intimacy with another of higher than one of equal or lower status. The present research explored three potential interpretations of the observed relationship: (1) that persons perceive others of higher status as less likely to react positively to intimate behavior, (2) that social norms discourage intimate behavior toward higher status others, and (3) that persons of different status may be differentially liked. Using a modification of the apparatus developed by Davis, Rainey, and Brock, seventy-seven undergraduate subjects chose to give either a verbal or physically pleasurable reward for correct responses to a confederate learner whom they believed to be of either higher (PhD candidate), equal (freshman), or lower (high school drop-out) academic status. The learner was either responsive to the physical reward (expressing enjoyment) or unresponsive (remaining silent). In support of the first interpretation, status affected the magnitude of physical reward only when the recipient remained silent. When clear evidence of positive reaction to the vibrations was provided by the recipient's responsiveness, status differences were eliminated. This indicates that status may be used as a basis for regulating intimate behavior only when direct information about the recipient's reactions is unclear or unavailable. The differential liking interpretation received no support, in that status affected neither rated liking of the recipient nor the magnitude of verbal reward.     

Multidimensional scaling of individual differences for an individual person with a hand-held calculator

An extension to the INDSCAL method of individual differences scaling was developed. The method derives measures of deviation from a “standard” observer, who is defined in terms of the INDSCAL subject weights. These weights are calculated for one individual person at a time. The method is implemented in a small hand-held calculator. The calculator is used for data acquisition, and it interacts with the user in a conversational manner through an alpha-numeric display. The present implementation of the method scales 84 judgments of pair similarity among seven objects and derives subject weights on two dimensions. The method can be extended to sets of up to 16 objects and up to six dimensions. The method is a feasible, cost-effective approach to classification of individuals on complex perceptual attributes within a single 1-h session.     

Dual on-line computers for research in cognitive psychophysiology

A laboratory configuration is described in which two compatible minicomputers are used to collect psychophyiological data and to generate a complex visual display. The two computers are part of independent systems used by different research groups for psychophysiological experimentation and cognitive reaction time research. With minimal additional requirements, however, it is possible to link the function of the two machines and greatly expand experimental possibilities. Two real-time applications are discussed, as well as other advantages of having compatible processors, such as simplified program development.     

Black suicide in the seventies: current trends.

In the most recent decade, the suicide rate among young blacks has risen to the point where it is nearly as high as that of their white peers. The data in this analysis reflect the striking contrast in age distribution in the suicide patterns of whites and blacks. Whereas white suicide increases in direct relation with advancing chronological age, suicide among blacks reaches its peak in the youthful years. Current statistics fail to reflect a "dramatic" or significant increase in the suicide rate of black women. Contrary to popular belief, black men in their twenties represent the most suicide-prone group. Young black males have been committing suicide at a steadily increasing rate during the past six years. Regionally, black suicide rates are highest in the North and West and lowest in the South. White suicide rates reflect a slightly different regional distribution. The highest rates occur in the West and the lowest in the North.