The prevalence of learning disabilities (LD) was studied in 233 students (ages 6-16) newly identified with behavioral disorders. Overall, 53.2 percent met at least one LD definition, ranging from 15.9 percent for low achievement to 42.9 percent for regression. Almost one-quarter showed overlapping between low achievement and discrepancy…

This article explains the operational conceptualizations of emotional intelligence, the benefits of emotional intelligence, and consequences of ignoring emotional intelligence. The roles of general and special educators in developing such intelligence in students with behavior problems are discussed, and an inclusive model for building emotional…

This article reviews research conducted by the author and colleagues over a 27-year period on enhancement of peer-related social skills in young children with behavioral disorders or autism. It argues that a logical positivist approach has yielded significant quality-of-life benefits to participants while effectively challenging many outdated…

Meta-analysis is often assumed to be the sine qua non of quantitative research. However, face validity of published meta-analyses in emotional or behavioral disorders (E/BD), as in other areas, can be substantially impacted by the information supplied. The quality of information reported, therefore, can also have important implications for theory…

Since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, educators have been advised that it is no longer acceptable to allow ideology, fads, or untested procedures to define teaching. Therefore, knowing what counts as evidence and why it counts is the primary issue of the early 21st century in the field of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders…

This article provides an overview of cognitive-behavioural strategies used in the treatment of child-anxiety problems, emphasizing the need for exposure and caregiver involvement. Most of the paper focuses on developments in empirically supported cognitive-behavioral intervention protocols for generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety…

This study examined the effects of a systematic, phonics-based reading intervention on the oral reading fluency and accuracy of adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) receiving educational services in a juvenile correctional facility. A multiple-baseline design across four participants was used to calculate the effect of daily,…

Teacher completed Behavior Problem Checklists on 730 behaviorally disordered pupils were subjected to first- and second-order factor analyses. Four narrow band factors and two broad band factors were identified suggesting two general patterns of psychopathology among children. (Author/DB)

Results of a peer confrontation procedure on the disruptive classroom behavior of three behavior-disordered and mildly retarded students (ages 9-11) are reported. Immediately following each episode of disruptive behavior, peers were prompted by the teacher to label the target behavior, indicate why it was unacceptable, and suggest an alternative…

The position paper discusses issues surrounding definition and identification procedures used for students with behavior disorders. Five recommendations address the need for revision of the federal definition, elimination of arbitrary exclusions, focus on sources of data collection, alternative models of service delivery, and priority needs for…

Resource and special class teachers of learning disabled (LD) and behaviorally disordered elementary and secondary students rated behaviorally disordered Ss as exhibiting more of five patterns of deviant behavior than LD Ss. Secondary Ss exhibited more rule breaking than elementary Ss; and special class Ss, more anxious, fearful behavior than…

This study examined the effects of a literary text-based course in emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) on changing preservice teachers' (N=32) attitudes toward children with EBD. Comparison with a control group instructed with a professional text-based approach found the experimental group had a significantly more positive change in attitudes…

Examination of the effects of difficulty level of academic tasks on the behavior of 2 subjects (ages 9 and 12) with severe behavior disorders found that difficult tasks were generally associated with lower percentages of time-on-task and higher percentages of time engaged in disruptive behavior than were easy task conditions. (Author/DB)

This paper examines empirical evidence and arguments for full inclusion of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. It reports a lack of empirical evidence supporting inclusion of this population and identifies problems in the arguments of full inclusion proponents. The paper also summarizes evidence contradicting the position that "more…

This paper identifies factors possibly influencing long-term effectiveness of social skills training with students having emotional or behavioral disorders. These include: lack of a sound conceptual framework, questionable social validity of target skills, controversies surrounding the nature of social skills deficits, imprecise assessment…