Students with persistent behavior problems, including those with or at risk for emotional or behavioral disorders, often struggle to be self-regulated learners. To improve self-regulation skills, numerous strategies have been suggested, including goal setting. Whereas goal setting has focused mostly on academic and life skills, behavioral goal setting has received less attention, particularly in terms of determining best practices for effective goal setting in school-based interventions. Thus, the purpose of this review was to examine the existing literature on interventions using behavioral goal setting alone and behavioral goal setting as part of a multicomponent intervention for students with persistent behavior problems. Findings from 40 studies are discussed in terms of participants, setting, design, measures, intervention components, and outcomes with a specific focus on directions for future research and implications for practice.▪ The term "self-determination" has been used to describe a multitude of behaviors and beliefs that help people live independent, self-directed lives (Wehmeyer & Field, 2007). Carter, Lane, Crnobori, Bruhn, and Oakes (2011) reviewed the literature on self-determination interventions aimed at improving this broad group of metacognitive skills for students with and at risk for emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD). Interventions in their review focused on a range of skills, including making choices and decisions, problem-solving activities, goal setting, promoting self-advocacy skills, self-awareness, self-knowledge, self-assessment, and self-regulation. The most commonly studied self-determination strategy, according to their review, was self-regulation.
