Behavior Modification- What It Is and How to Do It (7th Edition) Description:

Behavior Modification: What It Is and How to Do It (7th Edition) review:
3 stars (Easy to use, but terribly REDUNDANT!) - As a psychology student, I encounted this book in a behavioral modification course. I was not overly impressed by it, but it does have it's usefulness.

For anyone interested in behavior modification, or behavior therapy - whether as an educator, clinician, or even a parent (who might be wondering why their child doesn't seem to be responding to certain "punishment" perhaps?) - this text is written and laid out in a very simple, easily accessible format. Case studies or examples are provided to illustrate the application of new concepts, and most of them are very well chosen. Regardless of prior education on the subject, most individuals will be able to understand it and gain new knowlege that they can apply in the real world.

HOWEVER. The chapters, while short, are at times very repetitive - it becomes very hard to follow (motivationally) when you find yourself reading the same concept five times. The book can also seem very dry, and it makes it very tempting to skip over entire sections just to find something more engaging or interesting. Although this book is very easily read and understood - potential readers need to be warned (and actually are in the beginning) that finishing this text will not dramatically increase their ability to change other people, and that any behavioral modification procedures should be used with extreme caution - many behavioral problems result from behavioral modification that was improperly designed or administered! My last word of caution would be that although the majority of these techniques will work in nearly all cases, there will be some cases in which, due to context or individual factors, they will not. Be sure to read it while keeping an open mind to considering practicality and ethical applicability.
5 stars (Textbook, But Not) - I used this book as a special education undergraduate. I found it contained all of the essential information in a format that was not bogged down with technical language. I have since loaned the book to several parents who found its information useful and its style easy and unintimidating. It is full of common, everyday examples in order to help one transition from the theoretical to the concrete.
1 stars (Reveiw on "Behavior Modification, What it is and how to do") - I am a student at Ohio University and I have had the unpleasant experience of having to use this particular book for 3 quarters now and I absolutely hate it I think it is the most ambiguous mess I have ever seen it is confusing and redundant. My professor who is using the book for this term is now dropping the book also! He feels the same as myself and all of the students who have had to endure this book. I am so glad future students will not have to struggle with this in the future....by the way I was a 4.0 student until this particular class and the use of this book my average has now dropped to a 3.8. I am a straight A student in EVERY other aspect of my college career. I will bring my average back to the 4.0 I am used, to with no thanks to this book and its rediculous content.