This study examined the effectiveness of a school-based intervention process known as Prevent-Teach-Reinforce for children with a combination of externalizing and internalizing behaviors compared to children with only externalizing behaviors. The dependent variables examined were social skills, problem behaviors, and academic engaged time. Data for the current study were taken from archival data collected by the Florida Mental Health Institute that included students in kindergarten through 8th grade. A series of repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify differences in improvement on the dependent variables for the two groups of students. Research questions focused on the main effects as well as interaction effects between the type(s) of behavioral problems displayed (i.e., externalizing only, combination of externalizing and internalizing). Behavior problem classification was determined by calculating students' individual subscale scores on the Social Skills Rating Scale. The current study found support for the use of the Prevent-Teach-Reinforce intervention for children with varying behavioral profiles. Significant improvements were found in social skills, behavioral problems, and academic engaged time for students. Additionally, results of this study indicate that internalizing behaviors did not serve as a moderator to treatment effectiveness for students with externalizing behavior problems who received the PTR intervention. That is, improvements were similar for both groups, demonstrating that PTR is a process that can be used in an equally-effective way for both populations.

This study was designed to evaluate a parent training curriculum: Helping Our Toddlers Developing Our Children's Skills (HOT DOCS© ) using archival data collected between August 2006 and April 2007. The evaluation studied the impact of specific components of the parent training program on both participants' knowledge and attitudes and their perceptions of targeted children's behavior. One-hundred-forty-six caregivers of children between the ages of 14 months and ten years of age participated in the parent training program and were included in the analyses. Measures included a pre/post knowledge test, rating scales of child problem behavior, weekly progress monitoring forms for caregiver behavior at home, and a program evaluation survey. Results indicated significant increases in caregiver knowledge following participation in the program. Prior to participation, caregivers' perceptions of the severity of child problem behaviors and deficits in adaptive behaviors were significantly different from a normative sample. Following participation in the program, results showed significant decreases in caregiver perceptions of the severity of child problem behaviors, but no significant differences in child adaptive behaviors. Caregiver feedback indicated high levels of satisfaction with the program.

Decisions to refer students for disciplinary consequences (Hyman & Perone, 1998), eligibility for special services referrals (Smart, Wilton, & Keeling, 1980), and even suspension or expulsion (Brooks, Schiraldi, & Zeidenberg, 2000), are all likely to be driven by teacher perceptions of student behavior. Yet though there is a wealth of research investigating the mechanisms and consequences of teacher perceptions of student behavior, the accuracy of these perceptions has not been addressed in the literature. This study contrasted staff responses on questionnaires about student behavior by infraction category, school locations, and times with the actual referral counts from each setting to achieve a measure of perceptive accuracy for each participant. The results presented in this study extend the research literature on teacher perceptions by providing strong support for data sharing as a perception-changing mechanism among participants working in schools implementing school-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS). Participants assigned to conditions in which school-wide discipline data were shared had accuracy scores which were statistically higher than those in non-data sharing conditions. However, asking participants to report their perceptions more than once did not increase the accuracy of their responses in a statistically significant way. The application of an experimental research design and the use of appropriate statistical significance tests draw attention to effects which are statistically real. Additionally, the random assignment of participants within schools to one of four conditions provides us with confidence that the intervention, and not some factor, caused the change in accuracy scores among participants.

xi, 111 p. ; ill. (some col.) A print copy of this title is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / To address the growing academic and social needs of students, schools must utilize efficient and effective methods of behavior support. Targeted interventions support students who are at-risk for developing more severe problem behaviors. These interventions are implemented similarly across a group of students, and thus serve as an efficient and cost effective method of behavior support. Check in Check out (CICO) is a targeted group intervention that has a growing research base supporting its efficacy (Crone & Horner, 2003; Todd, Campbell, Meyer, & Horner, 2008). Although there is a growing research base, no studies have examined maintenance of reductions in problem behavior upon fading. The present study examines (1) if a functional relation exists between CICO and reductions in problem behavior, and (2) which components of CICO can be successfully faded with reductions in problem behavior maintaining. In addition, this study examines if teacher attention varies across phases of the study, and predicts successful fading procedures. A reversal design was used to evaluate the efficacy of CICO and subsequent fading phases in four elementary school aged boys. Results indicated that CICO was functionally related to reductions in classroom problem behavior in all four participants. In addition, a functional relation was established with CICO and increases in academic achievement in three participants. Fading procedures were mildly successful, with only some intervention components being removed with reductions in problem behavior maintaining. The amount of adult attention did not vary across study phases, however adult attention became less dependent on problem behavior during the CICO and first fading phase. Clinical and conceptual implications, as well as future research will be discussed. / Adviser: Cynthia Anderson

xiv, 218 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The current study evaluated whether a manualized training in functional behavioral assessment (FBA) would result in typical school professionals being able to conduct a procedurally adequate FBA with a technically accurate summary statement for student behavior. Additionally, the study examined whether summary statements obtained by trained school staff were validated by formal functional analyses. The efficiency and social validity of the FBA training process was also investigated through use of an acceptability rating questionnaire and a log to document time expended by each participant. Twelve school professionals participated in Practical FBA trainings that consisted of four 1-hour training sessions guided by a training manual. A post-test analysis of FBA knowledge content indicated that the trainees ended training with the knowledge and skill needed to conduct FBAs. Ten of the 12 professionals completed formal FBAs that were then submitted to validation via functional analysis. Results of the 10 functional analyses confirmed that all 10 school professionals accurately identified the antecedents and maintaining function of student behavior. All FBAs conducted by trained school professionals were considered procedurally adequate. The average time expended by participants in completing an FBA was under 2 hours. Participants also indicated high acceptability of the Practical FBA tools and procedures. This research study presented preliminary findings supporting the efficacy of an FBA training program for school personnel. Further implications, limitations, and directions for future research are presented. / Committee in charge: Robert Horner, Chairperson, Special Education and Clinical Sciences; K Brigid Flannery, Member, Special Education and Clinical Sciences; Richard Albin, Member, Special Education and Clinical Sciences; Renee VanNorman, Member, Special Education and Clinical Sciences; Jean Stockard, Outside Member, Planning Public Policy & Mgmt

The current study evaluated the efficacy of a training series designed to teach typical school-based behavior support professionals to build behavioral interventions from functional behavioral assessment (FBA) information. The study was conducted in three stages. First, a descriptive assessment examined the extent to which typical school team leaders demonstrated knowledge of core behavior support plan (BSP) development features following a four-part training series on the development and implementation of function based supports. The second stage of the study assessed the extent to which participants who met criteria for BSP development during training were then able to lead a typical school team in building a BSP that was perceived by expert behavior analysts as "technically sound." In the final stage, a nonconcurrent multiple-baseline design was used to determine if there is a functional relationship between implementation of BSPs led by typical school-team leaders who received the training and improvement in the level of student problem behavior. Thirteen school professionals participated in four 1-hour "From Basic FBA to BSP" training sessions. A post test analysis of BSP knowledge indicated that the participants ended training with the knowledge needed to use FBA information to develop student BSPs. Six of the 13 professionals went on to lead school-based teams in the development of BSPs that were rated by outside experts as technically adequate. Direct observation data were collected on student behavior during the implementation of five of the six resulting BSPs, and decreases in problem behavior and increases in academic engagement were seen for all five student participants. Additionally, participating team leaders and classroom staff indicated that they found the procedures and tools used to be both acceptable and effective. These results document preliminary findings supporting the efficacy of a four-part training series used to teach typical school staff to use FBA data in designing student BSPs. Further implications for practice in schools and directions for future research are discussed.

The research investigation reported herein examined program outcomes of student problem behavior and social skills, based on teachers' perspectives, before and after early behavioral intervention services. The study targets students in kindergarten through grade five who are identified by the school system for being at-risk for being labeled with emotional and behavioral disorders. Students identified received early intervention services based on individualized positive behavioral supports (i.e., social skills training, functional behavioral assessment, and team collaboration). Teachers completed a teacher form of the Social Skills Rating System before and after the student received program services to determine differences in social skills and problematic behavior pre- and post- program early intervention services. An analysis was also made of the differences among gender, ethnicity, and grade according to the teachers' perspectives. Data indicated statistically significant results in the area of social skills and problem behavior. The results indicate early intervention services that teach social skills and use functional behavioral assessments to deal with problem behavior are beneficial to children displaying behavior challenges.

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This session will present an empirical review of the SWPBS research. A discussion will be held concerning the issues about the effect on students with EBD.