Project Activities
The model will be developed and pilot tested with preschool teachers and children identified as being at high risk for emotional/behavioral disorders. This data will be used to inform the development process, to evaluate feasibility and usability of the intervention in preschool classrooms, and to determine whether the intervention shows promise for ameliorating early forms of problem behaviors in preschoolers.
Structured Abstract
Setting
The participating preschools are located in Virginia.
Sample
Sixty preschool teachers with at least a bachelor's degree in education and current teacher certification, and 120 children three to five years of age who have been identified as being at high-risk for emotional/behavioral disorders and who have average or greater cognitive abilities.
A preventative classroom-based intervention that targets problem behaviors will be developed and evaluated for feasibility of implementation by preschool teachers. The intervention combines the theoretical frameworks of behavioral principles embedded in reciprocal social transactions and an ecological framework for development. The intervention targets teacher-student interactions and home-school communication as critical features of a successful learning environment for children with emotional/behavioral disorders. The theoretical model underlying the intervention addresses (a) behavioral principles of reinforcement and antecedent stimuli, (b) the transactional, or reciprocal, nature of interactions between teachers and students, and (c) the ecological systems that impact developmental outcomes for young children, most importantly the family and the preschool classroom.
Research design and methods
A formative evaluation guided by the theoretical model's critical features (behaviorist principles, social transactional processes, and ecological systems of development) and pre- and post-data on teachers and students will be used for the iterative development process.
Control condition
Due to the nature of the research, there is no control condition.
Key measures
Implementation fidelity will be assessed using measures of adherence, quality, and dosage. Teachers' general classroom management skills, feelings of burnout and perceived self-efficacy will be measured to explore their potential role as moderators of implementation fidelity and sustainability. The social validity of the intervention, including its perceived acceptability and usefulness to the teachers, will be measured. Observations and parent and teacher reports will be used to measure children's social, emotional, and behavioral competence, and other developmental and pre-academic skills, to inform the iterative development process.
Data analytic strategy
Quantitative analyses of the teacher and child variables using repeated measures ANOVA and ANCOVA will be used to determine pre- to post-implementation differences on the teacher and child variables and to identify factors associated with successful implementation. Qualitative pattern analysis of teacher reports will be used to identify common themes related to training and implementation issues, typical problem situations in the classroom, and supports and barriers to implementation.
People and institutions involved
IES program contact(s)
Products and publications
Products: The products of this project include a fully developed classroom-based intervention that targets problem behaviors of young children at high risk for or with emotional/behavioral disorders, published reports, and presentations.
Journal article, monograph, or newsletter
Conroy, M., Sutherland, K.S., Haydon, T., Stormont, M., and Harmon, J. (2009). Preventing and Ameliorating Young Children's Chronic Problem Behaviors: An Ecological Classroom-Based Approach. Psychology in the Schools, 46(1): 3-17. doi:10.1002/pits.20350
Conroy, M., Sutherland, K.S., Snyder, A., and Marsh, S. (2008). Class-Wide Interventions: Effective Instruction Makes a Difference. Teaching Exceptional Children, 40(6): 24-30 . doi:10.1177/004005990804000603
Conroy, M., Sutherland, K.S., Snyder, A.L., Al-Hendawi, M., and Vo, A. (2009). Creating a Positive Classroom Atmosphere: Teacher's Use of Effective Praise and Feedback. Beyond Behavior, 18(2): 18-26.
Conroy, M.A., and Sutherland, K.S. (2012). Effective Teachers for Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: Active Ingredients Leading to Positive Teachers and Student Outcomes. Beyond Behavior, 22(1): 7-13.
Sutherland, K.S., Conroy, M., Abrams, L., and Vo, A. (2010). Improving Interactions Between Teachers and Young Children With Problem Behavior: A Strengths-Based Approach. Exceptionality, 18(2): 70-81. doi:10.1080/09362831003673101
Vo, A., Sutherland, K.S., and Conroy, M.A. (2012). Best in Class: A Classroom-Based Model for Ameliorating Problem Behavior in Early Childhood Settings. Psychology in the Schools, 49(5): 402-415. doi:10.1002/pits.21609
Questions about this project?
To answer additional questions about this project or provide feedback, please contact the program officer.
