A Response to Reviewer Comments Regarding the Manuscript, "Rule-Governed Behavior and Self-Control in Children with ADHD: A Theoretical Interpretation"

Reply by the current authors to the comments made by David Reitman (see record 2014-52016-003) on the original article (see record 2014-52016-002). We appreciate the opportunity to respond to the issues raised in a review of the manuscript, “Rule-Governed Behavior and Self-Control in Children with ADHD: A Theoretical Interpretation” submitted by Leasha M. Barry and Melissa A. Kelly (this issue). Many of the points brought to light in the review are indeed useful for discussion and provide additional research directions for further model development and testing. Solely Leasha M. Barry authored portions of this response and this will be indicated as such by the use of the pronoun. Alternately, the final paragraph in this response was a joint effort and reflects the thoughts of both myself and Melissa A. Kelly and is indicated as such by the use of the pronoun will address the reviewer’s comments in roughly the same order as they were raised for simplicity. We understand a reluctance to jump on the bandwagon for anything touted as a revolutionary, research-based panacea. However, condemning or minimizing the value of theory for improving practice suggests that practice continually improves itself in spite of theory development and hypothesis testing. When evidence is found that a theory needs to be revised or discarded altogether, the development and application of the theory does not imply failure. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)