Sweden has a growing proportion of children living in a multilingual environment. It is thus highly important that caretakers as well as professionals who meet these children have knowledge of multilingualism and its impact on language development. Also, an increase of referrals of multilingual children with suspected language impairment to speech and language pathology clinics is seen. The objective of this study was to investigate the linguistic ability in both Swedish and Arabic in a four year old child with suspected language impairment. A further aim was to implement an intensive intervention and evaluate the efficacy of it. Language testing in both languages showed that the boy’s greatest need was in the lexical domain. Thus, the intervention focused on strengthening the vocabulary within a limited number of categories. The study was performed with a single-subject design with multiple baseline assessments before intervention and efficacy measurement after the intervention. These were made with the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III and the Boston Naming Test and both in Arabic and Swedish. The intervention was made in Swedish. After the intervention a significant increase in both passive and active Swedish vocabulary was seen. No transfer effect to the non-trained language was noted. / I det svenska samhället lever en växande andel barn i en flerspråkig miljö. Det är därför av stor vikt att så väl vårdnadshavare som alla professioner som möter dessa barn har kunskap om flerspråkighet och dess påverkan på barnets språkutveckling. Det har skett en ökning av remissinflödet av flerspråkiga barn med misstänkt språkstörning till logopedmottagningarna. Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka den språkliga förmågan avseende såväl arabiska som svenska hos ett flerspråkigt fyraårigt barn med misstänkt språkstörning samt genomföra och värdera effekten av en intensiv intervention på svenska. En språklig testning visade att pojkens största svårigheter var i den lexikala domänen varför interventionen inriktades på att stärka ordförrådet. Studien utfördes enligt single-subject design med multipla baslinjemätningar före intervention och effektmätning efter interventionen. Baslinjemätningar och effektmätning skedde med Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-III och Boston Naming Test och genomfördes på barnets både språk. Efter interventionen visade sig att såväl passivt som aktivt svenskt ordförråd har ökat signifikant. Det aktiva ordförrådet utvecklades i högre utsträckning än det passiva. Ingen signifikant skillnad mellan resultat före och efter intervention avseende arabiskan noterades. Ingen överföringseffekt till det icke tränade språket kunde således noteras.

Personalized instruction has long been a goal of behavior analysis in the education of typically developing populations, one important element of which is the delivery of lectures in new formats. This study tested feasibility of online lecture delivery by comparing online and in-class delivery of lectures using an adapted alternating treatments design. Each week, the lecture component of a unit of an introductory behavior analysis course was presented either online or in-class, alternating week to week. The alternation was counterbalanced between two sections, where one section saw the lecture for a given unit -online while the other did it in-class, allowing for comparison between lectures of a given unit as well as across units within a section. First attempt quiz scores were measured. No significant difference in the trend of quiz scores between conditions was detected, averaging 73.1% (range, 50.4% to 83.4%) for online and 72.8% (range, 54.8 to 84%) for in-class conditions. This suggests that online lectures are a feasible alternative lecture delivery in this introductory behavior analysis course. This experimental methodology may also be used to test other instructional techniques as well. The ability to place lectures online, opens the door to further, more refined, experimentation with modern instructional methods such as the “flipped classroom.”

Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent childhood disorders in the United States. Although many children with an ADHD diagnosis are prescribed medication to control symptoms, behavioral concerns are still regularly noted in the classroom, home, and other settings. Therefore, school psychologists are often called upon to assist teachers and families with developing intervention procedures. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between mindfulness training, the cognitive processes of attention regulation, and behavior of children who have been diagnosed with ADHD. This study utilized a multiple baseline across participant’s design where each student was tracked over time following a baseline (pre-intervention) condition. Four 8-year-old male participants with a primary diagnosis of ADHD and a significant number of off-task classroom behaviors were included in this study. Teacher and parent ratings of the Behavior Assessment System for Children, Second Edition (BASC-2) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) were completed pre- and posttest for each participant. The Reliable Change Index (RCI) was calculated to determine if the pre- to posttest change scores on the BASC-2 and BRIEF exceeded what could be accounted for by measurement error alone. Results of the analyses revealed that mindfulness training was effective in increasing the number of on-task behaviors for participants. Parent and teacher ratings on the BRIEF suggest that mindfulness training impacted ratings on the Inhibit, Initiate, and Monitor scales. Parent and teacher ratings on the BASC-2 were analyzed and scores from the Attention Problems scale did not demonstrate significant change across raters and across participants. Significant change occurred on the Hyperactivity scale. Findings are discussed in relationship to the literature on mindfulness training for students with a diagnosis of ADHD. Implications for future research and practice are also suggested.

Students with emotional disturbance experience many problems that affect their academic and social success in the school environment, including academic performance, relationships with teachers and peers, and a lack of engagement in the school community (Anderson, Kutash, & Duchnowski, 2001; Villarreal, 2015). Currently, a handful of interventions exist to assist students with behavioral challenges. Many of these interventions aim to increase academic achievement, or to curb disruptive behavior in students with ED so that they can achieve improved school success (Algozzine, Wang, & Violette, 2011). Research with students with emotional disabilities also suggests that improving their self-determination skills and providing opportunities for self-determination are also effective in improving school success (Green, Mays, & Jolivette, 2011; Sebag, 2010; Skerbetz & Kostewicz, 2013). While some research has been conducted with middle and high school students with ED, fewer research studies exist on strategies that promote self-determination in elementary students. This purpose of this study was to explore the effect of a choice-making intervention on the academic engagement and disruptive behaviors of elementary students with ED. Findings revealed a functional relationship between the offering of choice and the students' disruptive behaviors and academic engagement. Students also increased in their work completion and social interactions with one another and with the adults. Social validity data indicated that the teacher viewed the intervention as being feasible and valuable in his classroom.

The present study was conducted as a systematic replication of earlier work investigating the phenomenon of behavioral contrast. Behavioral contrast has been consistently reported in alternating two component multiple schedules using infra-human subjects. The present study was interested in answering the question, "Does behavioral contrast exist in humans?" Two experiments were performed which investigated the behavioral contrast and sequential contrast phenomena in children. In both experiments, lever press responses were analyzed using an ABA single-subject design. The children were instructed to press a lever to obtain as many tokens as possible. In Experiment I, six Ss were equally divided into two groups of three subjects each. Group I, the mult VI EXT group began the experiment by responding on an alternating two component multiple variable interval (VI) 20 seconds, extinction (EXT), mult VI EXT, schedule of reinforcement. Following stabilization of response rates on a mult VI EXT schedule, Phase I, the three Ss in this group progressed through Phase II, a mult VI 20 second schedule of reinforcement, and Phase III, a mult VI 20 second EXT schedule of reinforcement. Group II, the mult VI VI group began the experiment by responding on a mult VI 20 second VI 20 second schedule of reinforcement. Following stabilization of response rate on the mult VI VI schedule, Phase I, the three Ss in this group progressed through Phase II, the mult VI 20-sec EXT schedule of reinforcement, and Phase III, a mult VI 20 second VI 20 second schedule of reinforcement. Behavioral contrast, in an alternating two component multiple schedule, defined as an increase in response rate in one component accompanying a decrease in response rate in the alternate component was observed in Experiment I. Regardless of the sequence of exposure to the multiple schedule, all Ss showed similar response patterns under the same multiple schedules. For example, an increase in response rate in the unchanged VI component was observed in all Ss when the response rate in the alternating EXT (previously VI) component decreased (positive behavioral contrast). A decrease in response rate in the unchanged VI component was also observed in all Ss when an increase in response rate in the alternating VI (previously EXT) component occurred (negative behavioral contrast). The appropriate change in response rate in the second component of a multiple schedule appeared to be prerequisite for the occurrence of behavioral contrast whether it be a decrease in responding when the second component programmed EXT or a stable response rate when the second component programmed a VI 20 second reinforcement schedule. In Experiment II, three Ss were exposed to a mult VI 20 second EXT schedule of reinforcement the components of which were presented in a random sequence. Sequential contrast, defined as a greater response rate during S+ when an S+ is preceded by an S- component than when S+ is preceded by other S+ components was not consistently observed in the present experiment. One of three subjects exposed to the sequential contrast experiment showed a consistently higher rate of responding during S+ components that followed an S- component than when an S+ component followed another S+ component, but the other two Ss in the experiment failed to emit response patterns characteristic of sequential contrast.

Abstract  Individual psychological factors have been recognized to play an important role in the development of stress-related symptomatology. Despite extensive comorbidity between stress-related ill health and mood disorders, the advances in research on emotion regulation and transdiagnostics, have not been recognized in stress research to any considerable degree. In the current study, using a single subject design with multiple baselines across individuals (n=6), a transdiagnostic treatment intervention targeting maladaptive emotional regulation strategies was implemented on patients suffering from stress-related symptomatology. Results show that symptoms of exhaustion decreased in five of six participants on post-measures, with considerable convergence between measures of depression, anxiety and stress. Further investigation of treatment effects, alongside the processes linking emotion regulation and stress-related symptomatology are needed. / Sammanfattning  Individuella psykologiska faktorer spelar en viktig roll i utvecklingen av stressrelaterade symtom. Trots en omfattande samsjuklighet mellan å ena sidan stressrelaterad ohälsa, å andra sidan depression och ångest, har framsteg inom emotionsforskning och transdiagnostik inte uppmärksammats i någon stor utsträckning inom stressforskningen. I den aktuella studien användes en single subject design med multipla baslinjer mellan individer (n=6), för att implementera en emotionsinriktad transdiagnostisk behandling på patienter som lider av stressrelaterade symtom. Resultaten visar att fem av sex deltagare visade minskade tecken på utmattning efter genomgången behandling, med avsevärd konvergens mellan mått på depression, ångest och stress. För att kunna påvisa behandlingseffekter, samt förklara de processer som förbinder emotionsreglering och stressrelaterade symtom, behövs ytterligare forskning på området.

Parents who have children with challenging behavior may feel stressed, overwhelmed and at a loss for solutions. Challenging behavior can cause problems with children’s relationships with others and their school success. There are many resources for schools and children with special needs; however, resources for parents for young children (ages 3 to 5) with challenging behavior are limited. This study examined the impact of a 6-week intervention to coach parents to use strategies that encouraged children to develop skills that helped them to express frustration and solve problems in positive ways. Parents were better able to understand what the children were communicating with their behaviors, and what supports they needed in order to get their needs met in an appropriate way. Challenging behavior decreased for the children who participated. They also were better able to communicate their needs and handle disappointment.

Being a teacher is not an easy job. There is an increased emphasis on evidence-based methods. Teacher praise is an effective classroom management tool. Behavior specific praise statements is a low intensity teacher delivered strategy where teachers say or write the precise behavior exhibited and how it met an expectation or affected academic/social achievement. This study aimed to increase Behavior Specific Praise Statements among three teachers in Mathematic, English and Social subject studies on student’s social behavior as a group. An intervention consisting of an hour of counseling, post-it notes, and self-registration was given. The teachers decided their own pre-set criteria. Two teachers sat a criterion of three and one teacher sat a criterion of six. The results showed that the intervention had an effect on the teachers use of BSPS. However, one teacher did not reach the pre-set criteria. Practical implications are discussed.

Many students with mild disabilities display off-task behaviors during academic content classes. The off-task behaviors can negatively impact their academic progress. In primarily clinical settings, specific interventions derived from the theory of sensory integration have been shown to increase on-task behaviors in students with mild disabilities. Using a single subject A-B-A-B withdrawal design, the researcher investigated the effects of hand fidgets on on-task behaviors demonstrated by a middle school student with mild disabilities who typically displayed off-task behaviors when participating in an inclusive, academic content class (language arts). Social validity was assessed to evaluate student and teacher perceptions regarding the intervention. During baseline and withdrawal (A phases) participants followed their typical classroom routine and were not exposed to the intervention - hand fidgets. During the intervention (B phases) participants were provided with a hand fidget for use during the class period. Results indicated substantial increases in the percentage of on-task behaviors demonstrated by the participant, when presented with the opportunity to use a hand fidget, during activities in which listening to a lecture was the primary task expectation. Social validity findings indicated that both the students and classroom teacher preferred the use of hand fidgets to the condition of no hand fidget present. This study provides preliminary support for the use of hand fidgets to increase on-task behaviors by students with mild disabilities who present tendencies for off-task behaviors during classroom lecture situations.

Background: The current study investigated the efficacy of a novel virtual reality-cognitive rehabilitation (VR-CR) intervention to improve contextual processing of objects in children with autism. Contextual processing is a cognitive ability thought to underlie the social and communication deficits of autism. Previous research supports that children with autism show deficits in contextual processing, as well as deficits in its basic component abilities: abstraction and cognitive flexibility. Methods: Four children with autism participated in a multiple baseline single-subject study. The children were taught how to see objects in context by reinforcing attention to pivotal contextual information. One-on-one teaching sessions occurred three times per week for approximately two weeks. Results: All children demonstrated significant improvements in contextual processing and cognitive flexibility. Mixed results were found on the control test. Changes in context-related behaviours were reported. Conclusions: Further studies using virtual reality to target specific cognitive impairments in children with autism are warranted.