ERIC Number: EJ1294530
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-May
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: N/A
Embedding School Cultures and Climates That Promote Evidence-Based Practice Implementation for Youth with Autism: A Qualitative Study
Williams, Nathaniel J.; Frederick, Lindsay; Ching, Alix; Mandell, David; Kang-Yi, Christina; Locke, Jill
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v25 n4 p982-994 May 2021
Schools play a major role in delivering behavioral health services to autistic youth. School culture and climate are strong predictors of the extent to which these services incorporate evidence-based practices; however, little is known about how school leaders shape culture and climate. Drawing on the concept of culture and climate embedding mechanisms, we conducted a qualitative study to understand the ways in which school principals embed cultures and climates that support effective implementation of evidence-based practices for youth with autism. Semi-structured interviews with 32 teachers in schools that implemented three closely related evidence-based practices for youth with autism (discrete trial training, pivotal response training, and visual schedules) explored teachers' experiences regarding (a) implementation of the three evidence-based practices, (b) perceptions of school culture and climate, and (c) principals' behaviors, practices, and decisions that supported or detracted from the aspects of culture and climate that supported successful implementation. Thematic analysis detailed seven mechanisms that principals used to embed cultures and climates that shaped evidence-based practice implementation. These mechanisms represent actionable targets for school leaders and inform strategies to improve the implementation of evidence-based practices for youth with autism in schools.
Descriptors: Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, School Culture, Educational Environment, Principals, Administrator Role, Evidence Based Practice, Intervention, Program Implementation, Administrator Behavior, Teacher Attitudes, Faculty Development, Resource Allocation, Student Needs, Teacher Evaluation, Performance Based Assessment, Accessibility (for Disabled), Special Education Teachers, Recognition (Achievement), Role Models, Coaching (Performance), Regular and Special Education Relationship, Primary Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Elementary Education; Primary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: K01MH100199; P50MH113840; R01MH106175