Date of Award

Summer 8-1-2007

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology

First Advisor

Linda L. Sperry

Second Advisor

Liz O'Laughlin

Third Advisor

Leah M. Nellis

Abstract

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an empirically validated treatment program shown to decrease children's disruptive behavior and increase compliance (Funderburk et al., 1998). Research conducted by Eisenstadt, Eyberg, McNeil, Newcomb, and Funderburk (1993) indicates PCIT is an effective treatment for improving child compliance and conduct problems in a clinical setting. In addition, McNeil, Eyberg, Eisenstadt, Newcomb, and Funderburk (1991) found that behavioral improvements due to PCIT also generalized to school settings. However, little research has examined the effects of implementing Teacher-Child Interaction Therapy (TCIT) directly in the classroom (McIntosh, Rizza & Bliss, 2000). This single-subject multiple-baseline study examined the effectiveness of TCIT on decreasing preschoolers' inappropriate classroom behavior. Results indicated that after teachers were trained to use TCIT skills, children's disruptive classroom behavior decreased. However, the degree to which children's disruptive behavior decreased varied, possibly due to wide variation in teachers' consistent use of TCIT skills.

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