Interobserver agreement (IOA) was calculated across three participant dyads for a generalized treatment integrity tool. No dyads achieved 80% agreement during baseline. Task clarification was piloted as an intervention for two of the three dyads. Form agreement produced stabilization in both dyads and improvement in one dyad. Time agreement did not improve but demonstrated marked trends in one dyad.

The science of behavior analysis is most notably recognized for its work with individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and the development of language in individuals with and without ASD. As an extension of a behavior-analytic approach to language, Relational Frame Theory (RFT) posits that relating between stimuli is foundational for human language and cognition. This modern-day account of human verbal events also includes psychological distress, which is frequently experienced among family members of individuals with ASD. The effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is derived from RFT, have been evaluated with caregivers of individuals with ASD and demonstrated empirical support. Despite all these advancements, researchers have not adequately considered cultural and linguistic factors in the provision of these approaches for diverse populations, such as Hispanics/Latinxs. Moreover, there is a paucity of research using such scientific approaches for caregivers and siblings of individuals with ASD. Considering that Hispanics/Latinxs are a growing population in the United States, behavior-analytic interventions should be culturally adapted. The purpose of this study was to culturally adapt treatments rooted in the science of human behavior specifically for Hispanic/Latinx families that care for a child with ASD. Specifically, sociocultural factors and Hispanic/Latinx cultural values were considered in the development of such interventions to promote the skill set and well-being of the family as a unit. In the first experiment, the evaluation of SPOP in transferring relational frames from Spanish to English in Hispanic/Latinx children with ASD was examined. Here, the language of instruction (i.e., English vs. Spanish) differed for participants, depending on their primary languages. SPOP demonstrated effectiveness for some relations with one participant, however, direct training was employed to teach correct relational responding. In the second experiment, the effects of culturally adapted ACT were evaluated on statements of psychological flexibility and inflexibility, and self-report measures for Spanish-speaking Hispanic/Latinx caregivers of children with ASD. Results demonstrated higher percentages of statements of psychological flexibility across all conditions, and a statistically significant difference in self-reported thought suppression post-treatment. Finally, the third experiment compared the effects of culturally adapted family-based ACT and non-culturally adapted non-family-based ACT on self-monitored committed actions and self-report measures for Hispanic/Latinx siblings of children with ASD. Results indicated statistically significant differences in reported committed actions before and after treatment, with changes in self-report measures post-treatment. Together, these experiments demonstrate the clinical and social significance of taking cultural and linguistic factors of diverse populations into consideration with behavior-analytic services.

Having a child with autism results in a unique set of challenges for both parents and siblings. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) has significant empirical support demonstrating its effectiveness as a treatment for children with autism. However, effective behavioral interventions should also consider how the family is affected. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of 8 parents of children with autism who have received ABA treatment and their perceptions of how the family system is impacted by ABA outcomes, specifically focusing on parental well-being and sibling relationship quality. A family systems theoretical framework and phenomenological research method were used. Data were analyzed using content analysis to find the common themes that emerged, which were: parents of children with autism face a high level of stress, but ABA treatment results in a decrease of some sources of stress. Having a child with autism produces strains in family relationships; however, ABA treatment outcomes can help with improved communication between spouses and interactions between siblings. Parents acknowledge challenges associated with ABA treatment but believe that the benefits are worth it. Insights gained from this study were meaningful and practical for professionals who provide ABA treatment to children with autism, as well as for parents of children with autism who may be interested in seeking ABA treatment. Positive social change resulted from the identification of perceived benefits of ABA treatment, such as reduced parental stress and improved relationships amongst all members of the family.

Previous research has found that if a population were allowed to exceed a comfortable density level, then many catastrophic events occurred such as increased mortality among the young, cannibalism, homosexuality, and lack of maternal functions. The most influential researcher in this area is Calhoun (1962), after whose experimental design a pilot study was fashioned to replicate his results. The results of this pilot study inspired a more detailed research project of which this thesis is an account. Forty-eight albino mice of the Swiss Webster strain were divided into three groups of sixteen each. Each group consisted of ten females and six males chosen randomly; two groups were to serve as experimental groups and the other group as the control. The experimental groups were placed into apparatus 15 5/8” x 20 1/2"x 8" and the control group in an apparatus 47 7/8" x 61 1/2" x 8". The three groups were allowed to multiply freely with nesting material, food and water provided proportionately as their numbers grew. The experimental groups were allowed to overpopuate while the control group was not. There were six behavior variables noted as the experiment proceeded: (1) grooming, (2) homosexuality, (3) nest building, (4) retrieving of young, (5) fighting, and (6) mortality of the young. It was predicted that grooming, nest building, and retrieving of the young would decrease in frequency as the population increased, while fighting, homosexuality and mortality of the young would increase with the rising population density. The experiment was conducted for six months and fourteen days. The result of this experiment was a total lack of overpopulation. The two experimental groups never weaned any pups though they produced many, and the control group grew to the comfortable limits of its apparatus and then ceased weaning any further pups. In an effort to ascertain the reasons for these results, one of the experimental groups was artificially reduced in number; whereupon it promptly weaned forty-one percent of its first litter, thirty percent of its second, and none of its third. At the time of its first weaning, this group was technically overpopulated. In conclusion a hypothesis is proposed to explain the results. It is felt that each population has an innate knowledge of its comfortable limits with regard to density and will maintain this crucial density level if necessary. The group's ability to control its popu1ation is directly related to a time factor in that if a population were allowed to approach its crucial density level gradually it would not exceed it; however if there were little or no approach time, then this level would be exceeded.

An experiment was designed to test the effectiveness of using standard laboratory environments in producing a broad class of problem behaviors which defined Mother-Child (M-C) interaction difficulties. The effects of four environments, free-time (X), child's game and rules (B), mother's game and rules (C), and clean-up (Z), on the frequency of eight criteria behaviors were tested on 12 M-C pairs over three days of baseline data collection. It was predicted that the frequency of problem behaviors would decrease as a function of environment (X) and increase as a function of environments (B), (C), and (Z). A two factor repeated measures design was used for the baseline data analyses. Analysis of the data confirmed the experimental predictions. It was concluded that the use of standard laboratory environments was effective in increasing the frequency of problem behaviors which define M-C interaction difficulties. These conclusions were discussed in view of the contribution made by the use of' environmental control in the application of behavior modification techniques to M-C interaction difficulties.

An attempt is made to present a model of group therapy for Lower-Socio-Economic-Status (LSES) clients. The theoretical issues include a definition of traditional group therapy along with a brief description of the more recent sensitivity training approaches. A rationale for combining these two different group approaches is presented to form the model for action-oriented group therapy (ACT groups) which utilizes both the traditional approach and action techniques of the sensitivity group. It is proposed that this hybrid, the AOT group, is more appropriate for treating the LSES client. The needs and expectations of the LSES client are discussed. The goals of the ACT group are to increase coping ability through increased awareness of self and others, and finding alternative behaviors to problems. A methodology tor AOT groups is presented and includes planned action techniques which are used in combination with discussion. The methodology of ACT is described in detail from the initial planning stages to the three major phases of treatment, i.e. beginning, middle, and termination. The specific techniques are listed and described along with a rating scale for the leader to evaluate techniques. Specific ideas for research are suggested.

In this study, it was proposed that the extent to which an individual accepts the collection of attitudes, mannerisms, and abilities the culture endorses as being feminine or masculine (which we are referring to as sex-role orientation) is related to the appearance of inhibiting fears of social rejection and uneasiness about one’s femininity (which we refer to as the need or motive to avoid success). We further hypothesized that women interested in achievement, being less strongly sex-typed, would feel deviant and exposed as women and would be likely to place a premium on the maintenance of other feminine attributes. Ever since Freud’s time, the suppression of aggression has been identified as the very essence of femininity. This pinpointing of aggression as a particularly differentiating quality between male and female has been maintained by some to the present. We proposed that this particularly feminine quality (which we refer to as fear of aggression) would appear more strongly in masculinely-oriented women. Horner proposed in her original study that the motive to Avoid Success is a psychological barrier to achievement in women. When aroused, the motive to avoid success is a most effective suppressant of performance in a competitive situation (especially if the competitor is masculine). This finding raised the suspicion in our minds that it might be the aggressive qualities inherent in competition that makes it seem especially incompatible with femininity. The aggressiveness of competition, of course, resides in the implicit set to defeat another person, to overpower an adversary, and to gain the psychological advantage. In order to obtain a high grade or graduate with distinction or secure the best job, you must defeat a peer. We hypothesized finally, that not only would fear of aggression and Motive to Avoid Success (M-S) each be related to sex-role orientation, but that these two inhibitors would be positively correlated with each other. Our Ss were 173 white college women from introductory psychology classes at Portland state University. To test our hypotheses that inhibition of aggression and Motive to Avoid Success would each be related to an individual's sex-role orientation, we used the following measures: The Gough femininity-masculinity scale and Franck Drawing Completion test to assess manifest and latent levels of M-F respectively; Horner's thematic cues to elicit Motive to Avoid Success; and a tachistoscopically-presented series of visual stimuli to assess the Ss tendency to inhibit aggression. Results indicated that fear of aggression is related to sex-role orientation in the expected direction, i.e., more masculinely-oriented women appear more likely to suppress aggression. The M-S was also related to a particular constellation of sex-role orientations but not the expected set. Unlike the fear of aggression, high M-S was related primarily to those individuals who held masculine orientations at the manifest level only. Considering that both M-S and fear of aggression were related to masculine orientations in women, it was puzzling that these two measures were negatively correlated.

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine aspects of assessment of the Type A behavior pattern, goal-setting behaviors displayed by Type A and B children, and parents' goal-setting behaviors toward their offspring.

The intent of this study was to examine the effectiveness of behavioral self-management for mid-level managers in a variety of organizational settings. Behavioral self-management combines some of the current techniques found in behavioral psychology and management research. The present approach uses behavioral self-control and certain aspects of time management in a four-term contingency analysis (SOBC) to systematically control work-related problems that result in less than optimal performance. Eight individuals who occupied middle-management positions participated in the study. The behavioral self-management approach was used to successfully manage a total of about 20 out of 23 target behaviors associated with on-the-job performance. Each manager selected, modified, and evaluated each of their chosen problem events. Seven participants worked on three target behaviors each and one participant worked on two. Results were highly favorable, indicating that the approach can be successfully used by middle-managers in various settings to increase the effectiveness of their own performance. It was concluded that the possibility of success with several types of work-related problems is high, provided the manager is committed to following the program and that the problems have been adequately identified. An exit interview revealed that seven of the eight managers were convinced of the program's effectiveness and usefulness in managing the target behaviors. Ratings of each manager's graphed results were made by nine individuals who were knowledgeable in the techniques of behavior analysis. Their ratings, which were very similar to the exit interview results, suggest a medium to considerable amount of behavior change on almost all target behaviors.

No description available.