Evaluating sensitivity to behavioral change using direct behavior rating single-item scales

In this study, the researchers evaluated the sensitivity of Direct Behavior Rating Single-Item Scales (DBR-SIS) for assessing behavior change in response to an intervention. Included in the analyses were data from 20 completed behavioral consultation cases involving a diverse sample of elementary participants and contexts using a common intervention in an A-B design. Secondary purposes of the study were to investigate the utility of 5 metrics proposed for understanding behavioral response, as well as the correspondence among these metrics and teachers' ratings of intervention acceptability. Overall, results suggest that DBR-SIS demonstrated sensitivity to behavior change regardless of the metric used. Further, we found limited association between student change and teachers' ratings of acceptability.
Student behavior in school settings continues to receive substantial attention within policy, practice, and research arenas. For example, research has clearly documented the important role that school settings can serve [...]