Skip to main content
Log in

Enhancing Treatment Integrity Maintenance Through Fading with Indiscriminable Contingencies

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Behavioral Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

School psychologists are often asked to develop treatment to remediate students’ academic skills or social behavior problems. When teachers implement treatment recommendations with high levels of treatment integrity, students benefit. Treatment integrity has been enhanced by use of direct training, performance feedback, and negative reinforcement procedures. Still, maintenance of treatment integrity has received limited systematic inquiry. This study investigated maintenance of treatment integrity over time by utilizing a systemic fading procedure with indiscriminable contingencies. The results showed that the teachers continued to implement treatment protocols at a high level after performance feedback was faded. Students also fared better when treatment integrity was high.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bahr, M., & Kovaleski, J. (2006). The need for problem-solving teams. Remedial and Special Education, 27, 2–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow, D., & Hersen, M. (1984). Single-case experimental designs (2nd ed.). New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bergan, J. (1970). A systems approach to psychological services. Presentation from the 1969 Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association symposium entitled: “Practice and Training within a Consultation Process Model”. Psychology in the Schools, 7, 315–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, M., & Hagan-Burke, S. (2007). Concurrent criterion-related validity of early literacy indicators for middle of first grade. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 32, 66–77. doi:10.1177/15345084070320020401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burns, M., Vanderwood, M., & Ruby, S. (2005). Evaluating the readiness of pre-referral intervention teams for use in a problem solving model. School Psychology Quarterly, 20, 89–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, A., & Anderson, C. (2011). Check-in/check-out: A systematic evaluation and component analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 315–326. doi:10.1901/jaba.2011.44-315.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Codding, R., Feinberg, A., Dunn, E., & Pace, G. (2005). Effects of immediate performance feedback on implementation of behavior support plans. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 38, 205–219. doi:10.1901/jaba.2005.98-04.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DiGennaro, F., Martens, B., & Kleinmann, A. (2007). A comparison of performance feedback procedures on teachers’ treatment implementation integrity and students inappropriate behavior in special education classrooms. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40, 447–461. doi:10.1901/jaba.2007.40-447.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • DiGennaro, F., Martens, B., & McIntyre, L. (2005). Increasing treatment integrity through negative reinforcement: Effects on teacher and student behavior. School Psychology Review, 34, 22–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duhon, G., Mesmer, E., Gregerson, L., & Witt, J. (2009). Effects of public feedback during RTI team meetings on teacher implementation integrity and student academic performance. Journal of School Psychology, 47, 19–37. doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2008.09.002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duhon, G. J., Noell, G. H., Witt, J. C., Freeland, J. T., Dufrene, B. A., & Gilbertson, D. N. (2004). Identifying academic skill and performance deficits: The experimental analysis of brief assessments of academic skills. School Psychology Review, 33, 429–443.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ennis, R., Jolivette, K., Swoszowski, N., & Johnson, M. (2012). Secondary prevention efforts at a residential facility for students with emotional and behavioral disorders: Function-based check-in, check-out. Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, 29, 79–102. doi:10.1080/0886571X.2012.669250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Filter, K., McKenna, M., Benedict, E., Horner, R., Todd, A., & Watson, J. (2007). Check in/check out: A post hoc evaluation of an efficient, secondary-level targeted intervention for reducing problem behaviors in schools. Education and Treatment of Children, 30, 69–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeland, J., & Noell, G. (2002). Programming of maintenance: An investigation of delayed intermittent reinforcement and common stimuli to create indiscriminable contingencies. Journal of Behavioral Education, 11, 5–18. doi:10.1023/A:1014329104102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbertson, D., Witt, J., LaFleur-Singletary, L., & VanDerHeyden, A. (2007). Supporting teacher use of interventions: Effects of response dependent performance feedback on teacher implementation of a math intervention. Journal of Behavioral Education, 16, 311–326. doi:10.1007/s10864-007-9043-0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. (1989). Assessment of treatment integrity in school consultation and prereferral intervention. School Psychology Review, 18, 37–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. (2005). Treatment integrity and therapeutic change: Commentary on Perepletchikova and Kazdin. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 12, 391–394. doi:10.1093/clipsy/bpi048.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F., MacMillian, D., Beebe-Frankeberger, M., & Bocian, K. (2000). Treatment integrity in learning disabilities intervention research: Do we really know how treatments are implemented? Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 15, 198–205. doi:10.1207/SLDRP1504_4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guevremont, D., Osnes, P., & Stokes, T. (1986). Programming maintenance after correspondence training interventions with children. Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, 19, 215–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirschstein, M., Edstrom, L., Frey, K., Snell, J., & MacKenzie, E. (2007). Walking the talk in bullying prevention: Teacher implementation variables related to initial impact of the steps to respect program. School Psychology Review, 36, 3–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kratochwill, T., Bergan, J., Sheridan, S., & Elliot, S. (1998). Assumptions of behavioral consultation: After all is said and done more has been done than said. School Psychology Quarterly, 13, 63–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDougal, J., Nastasi, B., & Chafouleas, S. (2005). Bringing research into practice to intervene with young behaviorally challenging students in public school settings: Evaluation of the behavioral consultation team (BCT) project. Psychology in the Schools, 42, 537–551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNamara, K., Rashee, H., & DeLamatre, J. (2008). A statewide study of school-based intervention teams: Characteristics, member perceptions, and outcomes. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 18, 5–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noell, G. (2008). Appraising and praising systematic work to support systems change: Where we might be and where we might go. School Psychology Review, 37, 333–336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noell, G., Duhon, G., Gatti, S., & Connell, J. (2002). Consultation, follow-up, and implementation of behavior management interventions in general education. School Psychology Review, 31, 217–234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noell, G., & Witt, J. (1996). A critical re-evaluation of five fundamental assumptions underlying behavioral consultation. School Psychology Quarterly, 11, 189–203. doi:10.1037/h0088929.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noell, G., Witt, J., Gilbertson, D., Ranier, D., & Freedland, J. (1997). Increasing teacher intervention implementation in general education settings through consultation and performance feedback. School Psychology Quarterly, 12, 77–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Noell, G., Witt, J., LaFleur, L., Mortenson, B., Ranier, D., & LeVelle, J. (2000). Increasing intervention implementation in general education following consultation: A comparison of two follow-up strategies. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33, 271–284. doi:10.1901/jaba.2000.33-271.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noell, G., Witt, J., Slider, N., Connell, J., Gatti, S., Williams, K., et al. (2005). Treatment implementation following behavioral consultation in schools: A comparison of three follow-up strategies. School Psychology Review, 34, 87–106.

    Google Scholar 

  • Power, T., Blom-Hoffman, J., Clarke, A., Riley-Tillman, T., Kelleher, C., & Manz, P. (2005). Reconceptualizing intervention integrity: A partnership-based framework for linking research with practice. Psychology in the Schools, 42, 495–507. doi:10.1002/pits.20087.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reinke, W., Lewis-Palmer, T., & Merrell, K. (2008). The classroom check-up: A classwide teacher consultation model for increasing praise and decreasing disruptive behavior. School Psychology Review, 37, 315–332.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanetti, L., & Fallon, L. (2011). Treatment integrity assessment: How estimates of adherence, quality, and exposure influence interpretation of implementation. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 21, 209–232. doi:10.1080/10474412.2011.595163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanetti, L., & Kratochwill, T. (2009). Toward developing a science of treatment integrity: Introduction to the special series. School Psychology Review, 38, 445–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaywitz, S., Morris, R., & Shaywitz, B. (2008). The education of dyslexic children from childhood to young adulthood. Annual Review of Psychology, 59, 451–475. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.59.103006.093633.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Slonski-Fowler, K., & Truscott, S. (2004). General education teachers’ perceptions of the prereferral intervention team process. Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 15, 1–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stage, S., Jackson, H., Jensen, M., Moscovitz, K., Bush, J., Violette, H., et al. (2008). A validity study of functionally-based behavioral consultation with students with emotional/behavioral disabilities. School Psychology Quarterly, 23, 327–353. doi:10.1037/1045-3830.23.3.327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterling-Turner, H., Watson, T., & Moore, J. (2002). The effects of direct training and treatment integrity on treatment outcomes in school consultation. School Psychology Quarterly, 17, 47–77. doi:10.1521/scpq.17.1.47.19906.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterling-Turner, H., Watson, T., Wildmon, M., Watkins, C., & Little, E. (2001). Investigating the relationship between training type and treatment integrity. School Psychology Quarterly, 16, 56–67. doi:10.1521/scpq.16.1.56.19157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stokes, T., & Baer, D. (1977). An implicit technology of generalization. Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, 10, 349–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swoszowski, N., Jolivette, K., Fredrick, L., & Heflin, L. (2012). Check in/check out: Effects on students with emotional and behavioral disorders with attention- or escape-maintained behavior in a residential facility. Exceptionality: A Special Education Journal, 20, 163–178. doi:10.1080/09362835.2012.694613.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Todd, A., Campbell, A., Meyer, G., & Horner, R. (2008). The effects of a targeted intervention to reduce problem behaviors: Elementary school implementation of check in-check out. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 10, 46–55. doi:10.1177/1098300707311369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • VanDerHayden, A., McLaughlin, T., Algina, J., & Snyder, P. (2012). Randomized evaluation of a supplemental grade-wide mathematics intervention. American Education Research Journal, 49, 1251–1284. doi:10.3102/0002831212462736.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waddell, D., Nassar, S., & Gustafson, S. (2011). Single-case design in psychophysiological research: Part II: Statistical analytic approaches. Journal of Neurotherapy: Investigations in Neuromodulation, Neurofeedback and Applied Neuroscience, 15, 160–169. doi:10.1080/10874208.2011.570693.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, P., Johnson, M., & Konukman, F. (1998). Directed rehearsal and preservice teachers’ performance of instructional behaviors. Journal of Behavioral Education, 8, 369–380. doi:10.1023/A:1022827415544.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wickstrom, K., Jones, K., LaFleur, L., & Witt, J. (1998). An analysis of treatment integrity in school-based behavioral consultation. School Psychology Quarterly, 13, 141–154. doi:10.1037/h0088978.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Witt, J., Noell, G., LeFleur, L., & Mortenson, B. (1997). Teacher use of interventions in general education settings: Measurement and analysis of independent variable. Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis, 30, 693–696. doi:10.1901/jaba.1997.30-693.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, B., Umbreit, J., Liaupsin, C., & Gresham, F. (2007). A treatment integrity analysis of function-based intervention. Education and Treatment of Children, 30, 105–120. doi:10.1353/etc.2007.0035.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zisimopoulos, D. (2010). Enhancing multiplication performance in students with moderate intellectual disabilities using pegword mnemonics paired with a picture fading technique. Journal of Behavioral Education, 19, 117–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas J. Gross.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gross, T.J., Duhon, G.J. & Doerksen-Klopp, B. Enhancing Treatment Integrity Maintenance Through Fading with Indiscriminable Contingencies. J Behav Educ 23, 108–131 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-013-9185-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-013-9185-1

Keywords

Navigation