Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2011

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Brad A. Dufrene

Committee Chair Department

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Heather E. Sterling-Turner

Committee Member 2 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Sterrett H. Mercer

Committee Member 3 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 4

Daniel H. Tingstrom

Committee Member 4 Department

Psychology

Abstract

Few studies have used experimental functional analysis procedures and function-based treatments using the class as a unit of analysis. Two kindergarten classrooms, one Head Start classroom and their teachers participated in the study. Both the assessment and intervention included teacher-implemented functional analyses and intervention using the class as the unit of analysis. Functional assessment procedures included a direct-descriptive screening observation, teacher interviews, and functional analyses. Assessment data were used to develop function-based interventions. An alternating treatment design with a verification phase was used to evaluate treatment effects. Function-based interventions, specifically, differential reinforcement of appropriate behaviors (DRA), resulted in decreases in disruptive behaviors in two out of three classrooms. Moreover, DRA was effective for increasing appropriate replacement behaviors. Assessment and treatment acceptability data indicated that both the assessment and intervention procedures were acceptable to the teachers.

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