Direct Behavioral Consultation: Effects On Teachers\u27 Praise and Student Disruptive Behavior

Direct behavioral consultation is an extension of traditional behavioral consultation and focuses on assessment and training in the classroom during ongoing classroom activities. This study evaluated direct behavioral consultation services in two elementary alternative classrooms referred following a program evaluation in which data suggested behavior-specific praise was not being delivered at a desired level. A multiple baseline design across classrooms was used to evaluate indirect and direct training procedures for increasing teachers\u27 implementation of behavior-specific praise. Results indicated that indirect training did not result in substantial improvements in teachers\u27 use of behavior-specific praise. Direct training procedures resulted in immediate increases in behavior-specific praise for both teachers, but only one teacher maintained those increases immediately following training. For the other teacher, when performance feedback was added to direct training, increases in behavior-specific praise were maintained. Data are also presented regarding student disruptive behavior. Results are discussed in terms of direct behavioral consultation theory and practice for educational settings. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc