For decades, evaluators have noted that it is difficult for stakeholders to accept negative evaluation results (Carter, 1971; Taut & Brauns, 2003). There is a need for additional research on evaluation to better understand when and why stakeholders reject negative or critical evaluation findings. Drawing on social identity theory (SIT), the…

Students' misbehaviors at younger ages can lead to more significant issues at the high school level such as dropping out, drug and alcohol abuse, and incarceration. The purpose of this study was to examine high school students' perceptions of positive reinforcement and punishment practices in their high school's behavior system. Two specific…

Six experiments were conducted with graduate students to assess resurgence of compound (i.e., multi-step) academic responding under free operant procedures. Participants learned two different interobserver agreement (IOA) methods -- compound behaviors -- through instructional phases before beginning the experimental phases. Each experiment…

This phenomenological case study explores the perceptions of high school administrators who have implemented Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) at the universal tier with fidelity. For this study, perceptions refer to the views and experiences of administrators implementing SWPBIS on the success and growth they have…

This study investigated the effects of interdependent group contingencies (IGCs) on teacher behavior in high school classrooms. Interdependent group contingencies, rooted in the principles of applied behavior analysis, have demonstrated to be effective in managing student behaviors. However, their impact on teacher behavior has remained…

The purpose of this quantitative correlational-predictive study was to determine if, and to what extent, self-talk (self-reinforcing, self-managing, combined and individually) predicts academic burnout for undergraduate students in the Southwest region of the United States. The triadic model of self-regulated learning and job demands-resource…

Significant adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact health, socialization, academics, engagement in education, and behavior outcomes in elementary students. ACE researchers have identified protective factors, which mitigate the deleterious effects of significant ACEs. One of those protective factors is the positive teacher-student teacher…

According to the School Survey on Crime and Safety (SSOCS; 2022) three notable discipline problems reported by public schools including acts of disrespect toward teachers, verbal abuse towards teachers, and widespread disorder in classrooms has been consistently increasing over the last decade (U.S. Department of Education, 2022). Noncontingent…

The study was a latent profile analysis of teacher classroom management styles. The data used were derived from a randomized control trial that examined the efficacy of the CHAMPS behavior management program on middle school teachers. There were 187 teachers in this study recruited from Midwestern schools. A latent profile analysis was conducted…

Challenging student behavior can have detrimental effects on both students and staff. These effects do not only include students' diminished rates of on-task behavior and low-grade performance, but managing behavior can result in elevated levels of psychological distress and burnout, which places education workers at risk of experiencing…

Research has demonstrated the efficacy and effectiveness of using high preferred stimuli as reinforcers to change individual behavior. However, these high preferred reinforcers are not always readily available or it may not be in the individual's best interest to use them (i.e., high calorie edibles). Previous research has demonstrated that…

This dissertation investigates the influence of interventions on the behavior outcomes of alternative education students in the Midwest United States, addressing the gap in literature regarding the implementation of School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS) in alternative education settings. Grounded in B.F. Skinner's…

Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) is a reinforcement schedule that commonly includes the delivery of a reinforcer following an interval during which a target behavior did not occur and extinction (i.e., the reinforcer is withheld following any instances of the target behavior). Although interventions using DRO schedules can…

The transfer of training from learning environments to workplace environments has been a major concern for training professionals and researchers for decades. How should organizations evaluate the effectiveness of their training programs and what impacts are those programs having on their employees' on-the-job performance? These questions are…

Interventions related to differential reinforcement (DR) are among the most frequently used within the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). However, certain conditions can inhibit the level at which effects of these interventions maintain upon treatment challenges or generalize across contexts. This can result in the relapse, or recurrence of…