Functional assessments conducted individually with four young children (ages 60–63 months) with behavioral disorders indicated that their behavior improved substantially when they engaged in preferred activities. An intervention in which these activities were imbedded within their existing curricula produced dramatic reductions in their problem behaviors. Probes conducted in nontargeted activities showed good generality with these children and with two nontargeted peers. Substantial increases in positive teacher interaction also occurred when the intervention was implemented. Treatment acceptability data indicated that the teachers strongly preferred the intervention over the instructional and behavior management procedures they had used previously. Finally, procedural reliability data indicated that the teachers could implement the intervention procedures properly even with limited training and support.
This study examined the use of structural analysis as part of assessment-based intervention. The participant, JB, was a 4-year-old boy whose noncompliance and aggressive behavior put him at risk for behavioral disorders and expulsion from his childcare center. The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved an assessment that included structured interviews and observations, hypothesis development, and hypothesis testing within the context of typically occurring routines and activities in the childcare. Phase 2 consisted of an assessment-based intervention that was implemented by the childcare staff. The intervention immediately reduced JB's noncompliance and aggressive behavior. These gains were maintained throughout the study and received high acceptability ratings from the staff who carried out the treatment. Implications are presented regarding the efficacy of interventions based on data gained through structural analyses of problem behavior to prevent the development of behavioral disorders.
In the current investigation, the processes of functional assessment and functionbased intervention were used to resolve the severe challenging behaviors of a boy with autism and mental retardation in an inclusive kindergarten in South Korea. A multicomponent intervention was developed in collaboration with classroom personnel and was implemented entirely by the teacher and an aide in the context of a multiple-baseline-across-activities experimental design. Results were empirical validation of hypotheses derived from the functional assessment, as well as lower levels of challenging behaviors and increased rates of appropriate behaviors associated with the intervention. Positive interactions with a designated classroom peer and with the teacher also increased. The findings are discussed as contributions to the growing literature on functional assessment and function-based supports and the importance of promoting successful inclusive experiences for young children with disabilities.
This study examined whether multiple antecedent and consequent variables, when arranged in different combinations, would differentially affect the likelihood that problem and/or appropriate behaviors would occur. Juan, age 4, engaged in a variety of aggressive behaviors during free-play activities at a childcare program. A descriptive assessment that included structured interviews and observations was conducted, and a series of assessment conditions were designed and implemented using a multi-element design. The initial assessment conditions examined the impact of the ratio of toys to peers during free-play activities. When there was an unfavorable ratio, that is, when there were few toys but many peers, aggressive behaviors occurred at a very high rate. When the ratio improved so that there were enough toys for each child, the rate of aggressive behavior dropped dramatically. During subsequent conditions, specific social skills were first taught and then prompted and reinforced, and occurrences of aggressive behavior were ignored. During these sessions, aggressive behaviors were virtually nonexistent and the use of appropriate social behavior by the children increased. Perhaps most important, this result obtained even when there was an unfavorable ratio of toys to peers.
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