Date of Award
12-1-2010
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Behavior Analysis and Therapy
First Advisor
Heal, Nicole
Abstract
It is often difficult for children to discriminate the conditions under which attention from teachers is available or unavailable. Past research has shown the effectiveness of and preference for multiple schedules to control individual students' attention seeking responses (i.e., mands); however, limited research has evaluated the efficacy of multiple schedules with groups of students. The purpose of the current study was to assess the efficacy of a multiple schedule indicative of the availability of attention for hand raises during circle time in a typical preschool classroom. Results showed that the rates of hand raises decreased in the extinction component of the multiple schedule and increased or maintained in the reinforcement component for all three classrooms. Rates of interruptions and problem behaviors varied across classrooms. Results suggest that a multiple schedule indicative of the availability of attention from a classroom teacher can be used in typical preschool classrooms to maintain hand raise responses at appropriate levels.
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