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An overcorrection procedure and rewards were implemented to eliminate nocturnal headbanging in a normal 7-yr-old girl. The treatment procedure involved immediate detection of headbanging by an alarm activated by a movement-sensitive switch attached to the child's bed headboard. The overcorrection procedure consisted of practicing intensively the correct form of the relevant behavior (positive practice) and applying a lotion to the irritated area of the scalp (restitution). Rewards were also made contingent upon the absence of headbanging. These procedures resulted in an immediate reduction and eventual total elimination of headbanging. Three- and six-month follow-up assessments showed that headbanging no longer occurred.

The purpose of the present paper was to review parent training studies that have used multiple outcome measures to evaluate treatment effectiveness. Twenty-four studies were identified which used at least two of the following three measures: independent observer-collected data, parent-collected data, and parent-completed questionnaire data. A description of the instruments and procedures used with each assessment technique was presented. The results indicated that all three outcome measures have yielded positive results; however, parent-collected data and parent questionnaire data were associated with more positive outcome results than data collected by independent observers. Limitations of each assessment procedure were discussed and recommendations about which measures to use were made.