Date of Award

8-1985

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Paul T. Mountjoy

Abstract

This study examined the interactions of mothers with their hyperactive children during a structured-task period to determine the effects of a symbolic modeling and parent training intervention on child noncompliance. Analysis of videotaped sequences across all phases of the study indicated that symbolic modeling was not a very effective technique for improving compliance in hyperactive children. Phase one of parent training, which taught mothers appropriate attending, ignoring, and rewarding behaviors, was more effective than symbolic modeling. Phase two of parent training, which introduced a time-out contingency for noncompliance, was the most effective intervention as it resulted in significant reductions in child noncompliance. During phase two all six children revealed improvements in their rates of compliance with four reaching significant levels. Significant reductions in latency to comply were exhibited by four of the six subjects, and all subjects increased their rates of task completion with two reaching statistical significance. Parent training which incorporates a time-out procedure appears to offer a promising treatment strategy for noncompliance in hyperactive children.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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