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The Effects of Class-Wide Function-Related Intervention Teams (CW-FIT) on Students’ Prosocial Classroom Behaviors

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Abstract

Students with challenging, disruptive behavior have difficulty learning in school, and their behavior adversely impacts the learning of other students and the classroom teacher. Class-Wide Function-related Intervention Teams (CW-FIT) is an evidence-based approach that teachers can use to prevent and reduce problem behavior and increase prosocial classroom behaviors. Previous studies have demonstrated that CW-FIT produced improvements in student appropriate classroom behaviors which led to increased available instruction time. The purpose of this investigation was to systematically replicate CW-FIT adding to the empirical research base supporting it. A novel aspect compared to prior studies was measurement of the student behaviors related to skills taught during CW-FIT (compliance, hand-raising, out-of-seat, and talking out), showing a direct relationship to students’ improvements. Students in four classes and their teachers participated in this study. An ABAB reversal design was used to demonstrate intervention effectiveness and experimental control. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

The research was funded by the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services, Department of Education (H324X010011). Opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the funding agency. We gratefully acknowledge the participating teachers, students, and families for their time and ongoing support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Behavioral Education Services and Training, 6224 Cloud Dance Dr, 88012, Las Cruces, NM, USA

    Carl G. Conklin

  2. Juniper Gardens Children’s Project, University of Kansas, 444 Minnesota Avenue, 3rd Floor, Kansas City, KS, 66101, USA

    Debra Kamps & Howard Wills

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  1. Carl G. Conklin
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  2. Debra Kamps
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Correspondence to Debra Kamps.

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Conklin, C.G., Kamps, D. & Wills, H. The Effects of Class-Wide Function-Related Intervention Teams (CW-FIT) on Students’ Prosocial Classroom Behaviors. J Behav Educ 26, 75–100 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-016-9252-5

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