Date of Award

Fall 2018

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

School

Psychology

Committee Chair

Evan Dart

Committee Chair School

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Keith Radley

Committee Member 2 School

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Lauren McKinley

Committee Member 3 School

Psychology

Committee Member 4

Joe Olmi

Committee Member 4 School

Psychology

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of a teacher prompting procedure to increase teacher behavior specific praise using a Smart Watch. Participants included three Head Start general education teachers. An ABAB design across participants was used to examine the effects of Smart Watch-based prompts on teachers’ praise rate. The study consisted of four phases: a) baseline, b) teacher praise training and intervention, c) withdrawal from intervention, and d) intervention reinstated. Implementation of the intervention resulted in increases of average behavior specific praise rates and general praise rates for all three participants. Although, averages fail to reach criterion set by the researcher of one statement per minute, these findings suggest that the Smart Watch prompting procedure may be an effective method for increasing Head Start teachers’ rates of BSP and GP.

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