Three field studies using norm-based public service announcements were carried out in a university context. The studies yielded inconclusive results, pointing toward the need to investigate the contextual and individual effectiveness of persuasive communication based on making social norms salient. The presented studies are discussed as the first…

There is a need for more research on selective or Tier 2 interventions to support students with challenging classroom behaviors. Existing Tier 2 interventions lack effective mechanisms such as autonomy support, which are shown to improve student-teacher relations and build competencies in the form of social or intra and interpersonal skills. The…

Rather than mitigating behavioral issues, exclusionary school disciplinary practices can actually increase student misbehavior and school dropout. However, the impact these sanctions have on students may vary based on school climate, particularly whether the environment is inclusive or punitive. Relying on a sample of over 2,000 students within 26…

This meta-analysis of 14 studies examines the relationship between abstinence-only programs and the sexual behavior and--attitudes of urban students from middle school to early in college. The results indicate a significant relationship between abstinence-only programs and the outcomes examined. Abstinence-only programs, as a whole, were…

Although mental health concerns are common among children and adolescents, youth-serving adults often feel underprepared in responding to these challenges. Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) is a training program designed to teach adults how to assist youths experiencing mental health or addiction challenges. This pilot program evaluation study…

The positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) framework is a well-researched framework used to teach, model, and reinforce positive behavior in schools across the country. Many residential and juvenile facilities have adopted the PBIS framework to fit a 24/7 delivery model spanning facility environments and activities (known as…

Teachers are responsible for providing an education to students of all ability levels. Recent data suggest that roughly 95% of students with a disability are receiving some form of education in their general education setting. Individuals with disabilities tend to engage in higher levels of disruptive behaviors (e.g., talking out in class,…

Considerable evidence has shown that physical exercise could be an effective treatment in reducing stereotypical autism spectrum disorder (ASD) behaviors in children. The present study seeks to examine the underlying mechanism by considering the theoretical operant nature of stereotypy. Children with ASD (n = 30) who exhibited hand-flapping and…

Researchers have demonstrated that comprehensive behavioral intervention can result in significant improvements in the lives of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD; e.g.; Lovaas, "Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology" 55(1):3-9, 1987; McEachin et al., "American Journal of Mental Retardation"…

In this study, a concurrent randomized multiple baseline across three parent-child dyads single-case design was employed to evaluate the effects of a brief three-week parent training program, titled Practiced Routines. The Practiced Routines parent training program included positive behavior supports (PBS) and mindfulness strategies within the…

The Science Teaching Experience Program--Working in Science Education (STEP-WISE) provides teaching experience for postdoctoral scholars holding full-time research appointments. Through a combination of mentorship, deliberate practice, and feedback, the postdocs learn and apply inclusive, evidence-based pedagogies. STEP-WISE is integrated into…

This study developed and tested the effectiveness of an app-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) program in alleviating anxiety among adolescents and adults with autism without co-occurring intellectual disability. Thirty participants from 15 to 35 years old were randomly assigned to either the intervention or waitlist control group, and self-…

Taking into account the complementary treatments used today, this study examines the impact of cognitive mindfulness therapy in persons with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A systematic review was carried out following the PRISMA method, including a total of 34 experimental articles from scholarly journals indexed in Web of…

This study examined the effectiveness of child-centered group play therapy (CCGPT) and narrative therapy in reducing separation anxiety disorder (SAD) and boosting social-emotional behaviours in early childhood (2.5-4-year-olds). An 8-week-randomized controlled trial design with three intervention groups, i.e. CCGPT, narrative therapy, and a…

Researchers have identified effective instructional strategies for teaching peer imitation, including embedded classroom-based interventions. However, there is a dearth of strategies that have been effective for teaching generalization of imitation skills to novel contexts. Building on previous research, we examined the use of progressive time…