Improving classroom behavior by modifying task difficulty: Effects of increasing the difficulty of too-easy tasks

Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions

Volumn 6, Issue 1, 2004, Pages 13-20

  Umbreit, John ^a   Lane, Kathleen L ^b   Dejud, Carlos ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA   (United States)

^b VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 1642518280     PISSN: 10983007     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/10983007040060010301     Document Type: Article

References (29)

1. Armendariz, F., & Umbreit, J. (1999). Reducing disruptive behavior in a general education classroom through the use of active responding. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 1, 152-158.
2. Bijou, S. W., Peterson, R. F., & Ault, M. H. (1968). A method to integrate descriptive and experimental field studies at the level of data and empirical concepts. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 175-191.
3. Billingsley, F. F., White, O. R., & Munson, R. (1980). Procedural reliability: A rationale and an example. Behavioral Assessment, 2, 229-241.
4. Blair, K. C., Umbreit, J., & Bos, C. S. (1999). Using functional assessment and children's preferences to improve the behavior of young children with behavioral disorders. Behavioral Disorders, 24, 151-166.
5. Blair, K. C., Umbreit, J., & Eck, S. (2000). Analysis of multiple variables related to a young child's aggressive behaviors. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 2, 33-39.
6. Carr, E., & Newsom, C. (1985). Demand-related tantrums: Conceptualization and treatment. Behavior Modification, 9, 403-426.
7. Carr, E., Newsom, C., & Binkoff, J. (1976). Stimulus control of self-destructive behavior in a psychotic child. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 14, 139-153.
8. Carr, E., Newsom, C., Binkoff, J. (1980). Escape as a factor in the aggressive behavior of two retarded children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 101-117.
9. Center, D., Dietz, S., Kaufman, M. (1982). Student ability, task difficulty, and inappropriate classroom behavior. Behavior Modification, 6, 355-374.
10. DePaepe, P., Shores, R., Jack, S. (1996). Effects of task difficulty on the on-task behavior of students with severe behavior disorders. Behavioral Disorders, 21, 216-225.
11. Dunlap, G., Foster-Johnson, L., Clarke, S., Kern, L., Childs, K. (1995). Modifying activities to produce functional outcomes: Effects on the problem behaviors of students with disabilities. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 20, 248-258.
12. Dunlap, G., Kern, L. (1996). Modifying instructional activities to promote desirable behavior: A conceptual and practical framework. School Psychology Quarterly, 11, 297-312.
13. Dunlap, G., Kern, L., dePerczel, M., Clarke, S., Wilson, D., Childs, K., et al. (1993), Functional analysis of classroom variables for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Behavioral Disorders, 18, 275-291.
14. Dunlap, G., Kern-Dunlap, L., Clarke, S., Robbins, F. R. (1991). Functional assessment, curricular revision, and severe behavior problems. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 387-397.
15. Ervin, R., DuPaul, G., Kern, L., Friman, P. (1998). Classroom-based functional and adjunctive assessments: Proactive approaches to intervention selection for adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 65-78.
16. Foster-Johnson, L., Ferro, J., Dunlap, G. (1994). Preferred curricular activities and reduced problem behaviors in students with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 493-503.
17. Gickling, E., Armstrong, D. (1978). Levels of instructional difficulty as related to on-task behavior, task completion, and comprehension. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 11, 559-566.
18. Gresham, F. M. (1989). Assessment of treatment integrity in school consultation and prereferral intervention. School Psychology Review, 18, 37-50.
19. Gunter, P., Denny, R. K., Jack, S., Shores, R., Nelson, C. M. (1993). Aversive stimuli in academic interactions between students with serious emotional disturbance and their teachers. Behavioral Disorders, 18, 265-274.
20. Johnston, J. M., Pennypacker, H. S. (1993). Strategies and tactics of behavioral research (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
21. Kazdin, A. E. (1982). Single-case research designs. New York: Oxford University Press.
22. Kern, L., Childs, K. E., Dunlap, G., Clarke, S., Falk, G. D. (1994). Using assessment-based curricular intervention to improve the classroom behavior of a student with emotional and behavioral challenges. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 7-19.
23. Kern., L., Delaney, B., Clarke, S., Dunlap, G., Childs, K. (2001). Improving the classroom behavior of students with emotional and behavioral disorders using individualized curricular modifications. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 9, 239-247.
24. Kern, L., Dunlap, G., Clarke, S., Childs, K. (1994). Student-assisted functional assessment interview. Diagnostique, 19, 29-39.
25. Martens, B. K., Witt, J. C., Elliott, S. N., Darveaux, D. (1985). Teacher judgments concerning the acceptability of school based interventions. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 16, 191-198.
26. Umbreit, J. (1996). Functional analysis of disruptive behavior in an inclusive classroom. Journal of Early Intervention, 20, 18-29.
27. Weeks, M., & Gaylord-Ross, R. (1981). Task difficulty and aberrant behavior in severely handicapped students. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 14, 19-36.
28. Wilson, R., Wesson, C. (1991). Increasing achievement of learning disabled students by measuring and controlling task difficulty. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 6, 34-39.
29. Witt, J. C., & Elliott, S. N. (1983, August). Assessing the acceptability of behavioral interventions. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, Anaheim, CA.