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Using a Daily Report Card to Reduce Off-Task Behaviors for a Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Daily behavior report cards (DBRCs) have shown promise in reducing problematic classroom behaviors. The effectiveness of DBRCs has been used widely examined with respect to students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disabilities, and other high incidence disabilities. Past research has primarily focused on students in primary grades, with a limited number of studies examining students in secondary grades, in particular students in high school. Even fewer studies have examined the effectiveness of DBRCs implemented by novice special educators. The purpose of the current study was twofold: (1) to examine the effectiveness of a DBRC in reducing off-task classroom behavior for a high school student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and (2) to evaluate the delivery of an intensive intervention by a novice special education teacher. A preservice special education teacher implemented the intervention. A changing criterion design was used to examine the effectiveness of the intervention. We analyzed the data using visual analysis and calculated effect sizes using Tau-U. The results suggested that DBRCs are an acceptable and effective treatment for reducing off-task behavior with a student with ASD when implemented by a novice special education teacher. Data were collected to measure the novice teacher’s implementation fidelity. Additionally, the results showed that a novice special education teacher can be trained to implement a behavior management program for a student presenting inappropriate classroom behaviors with high fidelity.

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Acknowledgements

The contents of this report were developed under a grant from the US Department of Education, # H325D130021. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the US Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Project Officer, Patricia Gonzalez.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Educational Foundation and Exceptionalities Department, James Madison University, Memorial Hall, 395 S. High, Harrisonburg, VA, 22807, USA

    Benjamin S. Riden

  2. Department of Educational Psychology, Counseling, and Special Education, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

    Jonté C. Taylor, David L. Lee & Mary Catherine Scheeler

  3. College of Education, University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL, USA

    Sal Ruiz

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  1. Benjamin S. Riden
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Correspondence to Benjamin S. Riden.

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Riden, B.S., Taylor, J.C., Ruiz, S. et al. Using a Daily Report Card to Reduce Off-Task Behaviors for a Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Behav Educ 30, 397–416 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-020-09382-6

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