C. Merle Johnson

Organizational Behavior Management in the Private Sector: A Review of Empirical Research and Recommendations for Further Investigation

A survey of empirical research on organizational behavior management (OBM) organized around the employee behaviors influenced is presented. It is concluded that; OBM methods generally affect organizational behavior positively; OBM researchers must clarify the fields perception of the worker and individual differences; although emphasis should continue in individual (micro) behavior analysis, OBM should become more macro or systems oriented; and OBM researchers must determine if internal states such as cognitions fall within its domain.

Amelioration of infant sleep disturbances: II. Effects of scheduled awakenings by compliant parents

Twelve infants and toddlers who exhibited spontaneous awakening and crying episodes during the night were subjected to scheduled awakenings by their parents. Scheduled awakenings were determined from individual baseline data, and these consisted of awakening, feeding, and consoling the child about 15 to 30 minutes before typical spontaneous awakening times. Once spontaneous awakenings were precluded, scheduled awakenings by the parents were faded out and posttreatment data were collected. The technique appeared effective for most children when the parents complied with the procedure.

Comparison of delayed prompting and fading for teaching preschoolers easily confused letters & numbers

Abstract Two teaching strategies, delayed-prompting (Touchette, 1971) and fading (Egeland, 1975), were compared for teaching the most easily confused letters and numbers to preschoolers. One group of children received training using delayed prompting with a fixed delay, a second group with a fading procedure; third served as the control group that received no training. A derived progress score on the training stimuli was calculated by subtracting errors on a pretest from errors on the post-test Analysis of these results indicated a significant difference between the delayed-prompting group and the control group only. The delayed-prompting group showed greater progress. During training, subjects in the fading group met criterion on an average of 4.33 stimuli and the subjects in the delayed-prompting group met criterion on an average of 3.23 stimuli. However, on a criterion test and a posttest given 1 week later, the fading group made significantly more errors than the delayed-prompting group.

Comparisons of Performance and Job Insecurity in Union and Nonunion Sites of a Manufacturing Company

ABSTRACT Layoffs and employment changes caused by current economic conditions have significant effects on employee work behavior and emotions as well as organizational outcomes. We examined the relationships between measures of job insecurity, organizational commitment, turnover, absenteeism, and worker performance within a manufacturer in Chapter 11 bankruptcy. A positive relationship was found between job insecurity and intentions to turnover, and a small negative correlation was found between measures of job insecurity and organizational commitment. Unobtrusive observations of union and nonunion performance over 4 months showed that nonunion production workers were on-task more frequently, although on-task behavior was high for both. Productivity and quality measures of different factories favored nonunion locations. Although comparisons between sites were constrained by a quasi-experimental design, repeated behavioral and outcome measures within sites showed differential effects when the company announced a plant closing in another state. Job insecurity appeared to be an establishing operation that produced differential effects between union and nonunion sites as well as among individual employees within sites.

Where will—and where should—Changes in education leave school psychology?

Abstract Current educational reforms and their influences are examined against a backdrop of historical change in education. A suggestion for the future direction of school psychology is presented in light of this historical perspective. A renewed emphasis on science is proposed. Assessment is reexamined with a focus on empirically based intervention and systematic evaluation of outcomes. The implications and benefits of such changes in the role of school psychologists for regular and special education students, individual school psychologists, and the profession are discussed.

Effects of white noise on off-task behavior and academic responding for children with ADHD.

We evaluated the effects of white noise played through headphones on off-task behavior, percentage of items completed, and percentage of items completed correctly for 3 students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Headphones plus white noise were associated with decreases in off-task behavior relative to baseline and headphones-only (no white noise) control conditions. Little change in academic responding occurred across conditions for all participants.

Using a Behavioral Treatment Package for Sleep Problems in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

This study investigated the effectiveness of a behavioral treatment package for sleep problems in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Treatment consisted of four behaviorally based components: circadian rhythm management, positive bedtime routines, white noise, and graduated extinction. A multiple-baseline design across three participants was used. Families completed a baseline of various lengths followed by 1 month of intervention. Results indicated the treatment package was effective in decreasing sleep onset latency and the frequency of night awakenings. A week of follow-up data showed continued improvement. Parents reported their children slept better and satisfaction with the four intervention components.

Continuous White Noise to Reduce Resistance Going to Sleep and Night Wakings in Toddlers.

ABSTRACT White noise generators were turned on at 75 dB at bedtime and kept on all night to treat resistance going to sleep and night wakings in one-year-old toddlers. In a multiple baseline design four sets of parents recorded duration of resistance going to sleep, number of night wakings, completed surveys of their childs feeding and sleeping patterns and the Parenting Stress Index (PSI). Three of four toddlers were sleeping better at the end of treatment; however, one childs night wakings returned at follow-up when white noise was discontinued. All parents were comfortable with the white noise and most would recommend it to others. White noise may be effective for childhood night wakings and resistance going to sleep without being combined with other validated treatments.

Token reinforcement on WISC-R performance for white, low-socioeconomic, upper and lower elementary-school-age students

Abstract The effects of token rewards on the WISC-R performance of white, first, second, fourth, and fifth grade students of low-socioeconomic-status were examined. Twenty control subjects (10 first- and second-graders, 10 fourth- and fifth-graders) were administered the IQ test according to standardized procedures. An experimental group of 20 subjects (10 first- and second-graders, 10 fourth- and fifth-graders) earned tokens immediately following each correct response on the WISC-R. Upon completion of testing, tokens were exchangeable for a variety of items costing less than

A Comprehensive Model for Assessing the Unique Characteristics of Children With Autism

3.00. The results indicated that the experimental group scored significantly higher (mean = 108) than the control group (mean = 102). A significant difference was also found for grade level, the first- and second-graders scoring higher (mean = 107) than the fourth- and fifth-graders (mean = 102). The implications for future research are discussed.