Some Effects of Training Students as Managers of a Program to Indirectly Modify Academic and Behavioral Teacher Ratings of Students.

Several studies have indicated that children frequently and actively attempt to manipulate adult behavior. Yet children have not been routinely used as behavioral change agents in the classroom. To study the extent to which teachers' evaluations of students' behavior and academic progress could be changed, 67 male high school students participated in a behavior modification training program. All of the students were identified as having behavior or learning problems prior to the training. A post-test evaluation after the 12 sessions showed that students trained in the use of behavior management techniques positively influenced teachers' academic and behavioral assessments of students. The findings suggest that training students in behavior modification techniques represents a viable means by which students can take an active role in determining the quality of their classroom experiences. (Author/JAC)