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The Efficacy of Brief Functional Analysis Procedures on Assessing ADHD Behaviors and the Effect of Stimulant Medication

This study examined the efficacy of brief functional assessment methodologies, including descriptive assessment and contingency reversal conditions, in determining function of ADHD behavior and the effects of stimulant medication in regular classroom environments. Students diagnosed with ADHD participated in a double blind placebo controlled stimulant medication trial within this functional assessment. One of the four participants showed differential responding to stimulant medication during the descriptive conditions, suggesting an effect of the medication for this participant, and also showing the descriptive measures used can be sensitive to changes in behavior due to the presence of stimulant medication. Results from the brief FBA also showed the assessment procedures are sensitive enough to show differential responding to the medication as well as across manipulated environmental variables. Three of the four of the participants displayed higher rates of off-task behavior when peer attention was delivered contingent on off-task behavior. Two of the four participants displayed the lowest levels of off-task behavior during the contingency reversal conditions, regardless of medication. Overall, results indicated the usefulness of the functional assessment procedures in common classroom environments in determining function of behavior and efficacy of stimulant medication. This study also continued to support the trend of current research by detailing the importance of individual assessment of behavior and the effects of stimulant medication on the treatment of ADHD behavior. / A Dissertation submitted to the Department of Psychology in partial fulfillment of
the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. / Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2005. / Date of Defense: March 22, 2005. / ADHD, Stimulant medication, Functional assessment, Behavior assessment / Includes bibliographical references. / Jon S. Bailey, Professor Directing Dissertation; Bruce Thyer, Outside Committee Member; Mark Licht, Committee Member; Jack Brigham, Committee Member; Frank Johnson, Committee Member.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_168915
ContributorsWright, C. Baker (authoraut), Bailey, Jon S. (professor directing dissertation), Thyer, Bruce (outside committee member), Licht, Mark (committee member), Brigham, Jack (committee member), Johnson, Frank (committee member), Department of Psychology (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution)
PublisherFlorida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish, English
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText, text
Format1 online resource, computer, application/pdf

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