Intervention researchers often use curriculum-based measurement of reading fluency (CBM-R) with a brief experimental analysis (BEA) to identify an effective intervention for individual students. The current study synthesized data from 22 studies that used CBM-R data within a BEA by computing the standard error of measure (SEM) for the median data point from the baseline and intervention data. The median CBM-R score from the intervention that the authors of each study identified as most effective fell within the SEM (68% confidence interval) of the baseline data approximately 30% of the time, but the ranges for the two author-identified most effective interventions overlapped over 75% of the time. Extended analyses were consistent with the BEA results for approximately three-fourths of the instances after considering the SEM of the baseline and intervention phases. Using matched passages did not improve the overlap of the ranges, but there was less overlap when the study used three data points per condition. Results emphasize the importance of considering SEM of CBM-R data when comparing interventions within a BEA. Further implications for practice and future research are included. C 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The current study examined the effect of academic interventions and modifications on behavioral outcomes in a meta-analysis of 32 single-case design studies. Academic interventions included modifying task difficulty, providing instruction in reading, mathematics, or writing, and contingent reinforcement for academic performance. There was an overall small to moderate effect (ϕ = .56) on behavioral outcomes, with a stronger effect on increasing time on task (ϕ = .64) than on decreasing disruptive behavior (ϕ = .42). There was a small effect for using a performance-based contingent reinforcer (ϕ = .48). Interventions completed in an individual setting resulted in a moderate to large effects on behavior outcomes. Results of the current meta-analysis suggest that academic interventions can offer both positive academic and behavioral outcomes. Practical implications and suggestions for future research are included. (PsycINFO Database Record
Teaching children too many words during a lesson reduces retention. The amount of new information a student can successfully rehearse and recall later is called acquisition rate (AR), which has been reliably measured with students in first, third, and fifth grades. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of assessing AR for sight words with kindergarten students. A total of 32 kindergarten students from five classrooms across two elementary schools participated in the study. AR was measured twice over a 2-week period, and 1-day retention was measured for the first AR. The AR data resulted in a 2-week delayed alternate form reliability of r = .83, and there was also a strong correlation between AR and number of words retained 1 day later. The limitations, implications, and considerations for the name of the construct being assessed are discussed.
Assessing a student's acquisition rates (ARs) is a reliable way to determine how many new words should be taught in one lesson without reducing retention. Exceeding a student's AR can result in frustration and problem behaviors. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of AR on the off-task behavior of kindergarten students while participating in a commonly used sight-word instruction video. Participants included 39 kindergarten students whose ARs were assessed before showing the sight-word video. Behavior was measured as on-and off-task using momentary time-sampling with 10-s intervals. Results indicated that students' time off task increased after exceeding their ARs, with a noticeable immediate increase. The implications and limitations of these results are discussed. K E Y W O R D S acquisition rate, early literacy, time on task Teachers report that the most common behavior problems for elementary-aged students are inattention, hyperactivity, and disruptive behavior (Reinke, Stormont, Herman, Puri, & Goel, 2011). There are many reasons why a student could be off task including various environmental conditions (Crone, Hawken, & Horner, 2015). For example, off-task behavior can be the result of frustration from engaging in a task that is too difficult for the student (Baker, D'Mello,
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