Instructions, feedback, and reinforcement in reducing activity levels in the classroom.

The biomotometer, an electronic device which simultaneously measures motor activity and provides auditory feedback, was used in combination with material reinforcers in an experiment to reduce children's activity level in a classroom setting. Subjects were nine boys and two girls, aged 9--13, from a day hospital program for emotionally disturbed children. After five baseline trials, each child had five contingent reinforcement trials in which he/she received feedback "beeps" from the biomotometer and was given toy or candy rewards after each trial in which activity fell at least 20% below mean baseline level. Then five noncontingent reinforcement trials were run in which children received rewards for wearing the apparatus without the feedback attachment. Results indicated that the intervention "package," including instructions, feedback, and contingent reinforcement, was successful in all five trials for 8 of 11 children. Activity levels increased during the final noncontingent phase.

Activity level: a comparison between actometer scores and observer ratings.

Activity level of 13 boys (aged 9-13) from a day hospital program was measured using actometers in classroom, gym, woodshop, and group therapy settings. Ratings of Ss' activity were obtained from mothers using the Werry scale, and from six clinical staff familiar with the Ss using the Davids scale. It was predicted that activity ratings would have situationally specific relationships with actometer-measured activity level according to the rater's opportunities for observation. Comparisons between measures indicated that all clinical staff ratings correlated significantly with actometer activity in the classroom (r = .49 to r = .73), while mothers' ratings correlated significantly with actometer activity in gym (r = .67), and woodshop (r = .77), and with overall activity (r = .65), a combined measure derived from actometer scores in the four conditions tested. Five of six clinical staff raters showed significant interrater reliability (r = .58 to r = .83). Results are discussed in terms of their implications for solution of current problems in assessment of activity level and hyperactivity.

Modification of activity level through biofeedback and operant conditioning.

The biomotometer, an electronic device that simultaneously measures activity and provides auditory feedback to the subject, was used in combination with material reinforcers in two experiments attempting to modify activity level in children. In the first study the activity level of an 11-year-old highly active boy was decreased below mean baseline during conditioning in a classroom setting. His level of activity returned to baseline when feedback was withdrawn. In the second study, activity level of a 10-year-old hypoactive boy was increased over mean baseline level during conditioning in a free-play setting, and returned to slightly below baseline during five extinction trials. Results of these studies indicate that the biomotometer is a useful instrument for modification of activity level.

A rating scale for the selection of internship applicants.

This study evaluated the utility of a rating scale for selecting clinical psychology interns. Forty-five applicants were rated by five staff psychologists. Variables rated included previous clinical experience, academic record, scholarly productivity, letters of recommendation, and intangibles. Majority agreement was found for 80% of the applicants for academic record and for scholarly productivity, for 73.3% of the applicants for clinical experience and for letters of recommendation, for 40% of the applicants for intangibles. Overall majority agreement was found for 64.8% of the candidates. All of the variables correlated positively and significantly with the total score. Scholarly productivity was weighted highest as a predictor of the applicant's total score followed by clinical experience, intangibles, letters of recommendation, and academic record. Advantages of the use of the rating scale by training centers in the selection of interns were discussed.