The level system is a behavioral procedure that alters the status of a participant contingent on his or her behaviors; within each level the amount of reinforcement is different. In most cases, level systems are paired with another form of treatment such as a token economy. In the current study, the effectiveness of a level system with a built in token economy was evaluated within three intensive residential group homes with 3 male participants. Each participant was diagnosed with mental retardation and behavioral issues. The level system was comprised of 5 different levels, each having different privileges and reinforcers. Each participant received token dollars for displaying replacement behaviors and the tokens were used to purchase items from a token store. A preference assessment was conducted to determine the items and their values. The results of the current study suggest that a level system with a built in token economy is an effective form of treatment in managing severe, inappropriate behaviors in individuals with mental retardation residing in a group home setting.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2002. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 224-231.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Syracuse University, 2007. / "Publication number: AAT 3295523."

This study assessed the effect of Behavioral Skills Training (instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback) using a multiple baseline design to train 3 dental hygiene students to implement basic behavioral procedures (picture schedules, differential reinforcement, contingent escape, escape extinction, and least-to-most prompting) to manage and prevent challenging behavior during dental care procedures on special needs patients. The study took place in a mobile school-based dental clinic set up within 4 special schools. Training consisted of one group training session and several in-vivo training sessions. After training, participants' performance in the absence of feedback was assessed. Data show that participants performed less than 35% of steps correctly before receiving the training package and quickly reached criteria during training sessions. Results suggest that Behavioral Skills Training could be used to increase skills during one 3-hr class period, with further increases in skills to over 90% accuracy after some follow-up in-vivo practice and feedback.

Behavior management is arguably the cornerstone of good teaching and this is particularly so in traditional educational school settings. In Thailand, the most common strategy for managing problem behavior is the use of the Ministry of Education's Code of Conduct for all children. However, reactive strategies produce negative side effects in terms of student prognosis, inclusion, and also teacher stress. There is currently no data regarding the types of problem behaviors experienced by teachers working in special residential schools for students with visual impairments. Therefore, the goals of this thesis are to examine teacher perceptions regarding the types of problems they typically encounter and the behavior management practices they use in their classrooms. Thai teachers working in these special residential schools completed a 61-item questionnaire rating the extent to which they agreed or disagreed that problem behaviors were observed and the extent to which they found specific behavior management practices effective. Results suggested Thai teachers occasionally experienced problem behaviors related to distractibility and stereotypy, which can interfere with instructional activities and learning. However, the teachers infrequently encountered more serious behaviors such as aggression or self-injury. Teachers also reported using more proactive instructional approaches and positive disciplinary practices to keep students engaged in instruction as opposed to more punitive management practices, like reprimands or office referrals. Results are discussed in the context of behavior management practices across traditional and self-contained educational settings, and a focus on transition practices to facilitate including more Thai students with visual impairments into traditional educational settings with their non-disabled peers.

Individuals responding in a socially desirable (SD) fashion, rather than in a manner that reflects their true behavior, has been a problem for self-report questionnaires since their inception. The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that the probability an item is endorsed on a self-report measure of anger is directly proportional to the rated SD of that item. Eighty-two subjects completed the Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), the Profile of Moods State (POMS), and the State- Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). A probability of endorsement was computed for each of the measures' items. Twenty additional subjects rated the measures' items for SD. Each item's SD rating was paired with the probability the item was endorsed to produce a correlation coefficient for each measure. Results strongly support the stated hypothesis. Directions for future research are discussed.

The presenter will discuss challenges and implications of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) to classroom environment, behavior management and special education. The presenter will then open discussion on experiences with NAS in classrooms, schools, and communities.

Level systems provide systematic support for teachers and students who need additional behavior support. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the perspectives of faculty members from a self-contained school, for special education students with severe behavior needs, which has sustained the use of a school-wide, behavior management level system for nearly 30 years. A total of 11 faculty members were interviewed using the critical incident technique, a qualitative methodology used as an exploratory tool in early stages of research. Interviews detailed the observable behaviors and specific events, critical incidents, that helped or hindered the sustainability of their school's level system. Faculty identified eight helping categories, six hindering categories, and six "wish list" categories, items participants wished had happened or could happen in the future. Helping categories included building rapport and teaming; collecting, recording and using data; communicating and collaborating; schoolwide consistency; relationships and student feedback; student engagement and buy-in; faculty buy-in and adaptability. Hindering categories included scoring and accountability inconsistencies; philosophical differences; insufficient staff training and experience; multifaceted system requiring nuanced decision making; staff mental health concerns; and community factors and external pressures. The findings of this study illustrate the importance of varied communication portals to support sustainability.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to explore: (a)how and to what extent teachers experience and express trust in relation to individual students and groups of students (b)how and to what extent teachers value and focus on specific attributes of trust over others and (c) how and to what extent the levels of teacher trust in students and the various attributes of trust impact the teachers’ behaviors and choices in the classroom. Data were collected from teacher interviews, teacher questionnaires, classroom and school artifacts, and descriptive field notes from observations. Data were analyzed using content analysis and open, axial, and selective coding (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). Results indicated that participants valued specific attributes of trust over other attributes of trust. Participants were aware that individual students expressed different levels of one or more attributes of trust and made specific behavioral and pedagogical decisions for students who demonstrated very low levels or very high levels of specific attributes of trust. Results also indicated that participants valued particular attributes of trust because those attributes facilitated and reinforced other attributes of trust. One attribute of trust could be facilitated and reinforced by several other attributes of trust. Participants used pedagogical and behavioral means to attempt to increase students’ expression of particular attributes of trust. Results suggested that teachers who adjust the classroom environment and use several alternative teaching strategies may be making choices that increase students’ abilities to demonstrate attributes of trust. Teachers who use fewer teaching strategies and who do not adjust the environment adequately may be less able to increase the students’ abilities to demonstrate attributes of trust. A clear understanding of teacher-student trust may help teachers to chart the degree to which particular teaching methods and behavioral practices work or do not work to increase attributes of trust.