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In the current study, we examined relations between text features (e.g., word concreteness, referential cohesion) and reading comprehension using multilevel logistic models. The sample was 158 native English‐speaking students between 8 years, 8 months and 11 years, 2 months of age with a wide range of reading ability. In line with the simple view of reading, decoding ability and language comprehension were associated with reading comprehension performance. Text characteristics, including indices of word frequency, number of pronouns, word concreteness, and deep cohesion, also predicted unique variance in reading comprehension performance over and above the simple view’s components. Additionally, the emotional charge of text (i.e., lexical ratings of arousal) predicted reading comprehension beyond traditional person‐level and text‐based characteristics. These findings add to a small but growing body of evidence suggesting that it is important to consider emotional charge in addition to person‐level and text‐based characteristics to better understand reading comprehension performance.

Chained and tandem schedules are a common method for thinning schedules of reinforcement following functional communication training (FCT) in the treatment of problem behavior. We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis of chained and tandem schedules following FCT to describe treatment characteristics and evaluate effects. We identified 38 articles and found reductions in problem behavior across four measures. Results of a random-effects multilevel meta-analysis of rigorous evaluations showed a significant effect of chained or tandem schedules + FCT on problem behavior relative to baseline. We observed resurgence in 77% of cases and 31% of schedule-thinning transitions. Results showed chained schedules resulted in greater reductions in problem behavior relative to tandem schedules. Exploratory moderator analyses suggested extinction, combined reinforcement, and delay and denial tolerance training procedures were associated with greater reductions in problem behavior relative to other treatment characteristics. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

To explore the impact of COVID‐19 on daily life and problem behavior during virtual learning, we created and administered a survey to 64 school‐aged children (in 2019, M = 9.84 years; SD = 0.55 years). Results indicated significant increases in hyperactivity (t = −2.259; p = .027) and inattention (t = −2.811; p = .007) from 2019 to 2020. Decreases in sleep were associated with increases in hyperactivity (B = −0.27; p = .04); increases in time exercising were associated with smaller increases in inattention (B = −0.34, p = .01); and higher levels of parent stress, specifically related to virtual learning, were associated with increases in child inattention (B = 0.57, p = .01). Furthermore, hyperactivity predicted problem behavior during virtual learning (B = 0.31, p = .03).