A control group outcome study of a nonexclusionary time‐out package to improve social skills with preschoolers |
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| Authors: | Virginia E Fee Johnny L Matson Ramasamy Manikam |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA;2. Ph.D., Department of Psychology , Louisiana State University , Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Teachers used a nonexclusionary time‐out package to treat inappropriate social behaviors that interfered with instructional tasks in four classrooms of preschool children, each containing an average of 16 students. We yoked classrooms on pretreatment scores of target behaviors and randomly assigned them to a time‐out ribbon plus praise or control condition. Students in the treatment condition wore wristbands with attached smiling face stickers and received praise from teachers for taking turns talking and remaining seated during group activities. Contingent on disruptive behavior, teachers removed the wristbands signaling a three‐minute time‐out period in which teachers restricted praise and attention but ongoing participation in activities continued. Multiple measures of treatment outcome were analyzed via MANCOVA and ANCOVAs. Behavior improved on direct observations of target behavior, the Preschool Behavior Questionnaire (PBQ) and items on a semantic differential, but not the Matson Evaluation of Social Skills with Youngsters. Treatment acceptability also supported treatment effects. We discuss implications of these results. |
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