Research > Primary

Primary Prevention Tier of School-wide Positive Behavior Support

Randomized Control Trials assessing SWPBS are (a) proposed, (b) being conducted, or (c) recently completed.

1. Horner, R., Sugai, G., Smolkowski, K., Todd, A., Nakasato, J., & Esperanza, J., (in press). A Randomized Control Trial of School-wide Positive Behavior Support in Elementary Schools.Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions.

This paper documents that typical state agents were successful in implementing SWPBS practices, and that these practices were experimentally linked to improved perception of school safety, with preliminary support that implementation was associated with improved proportion of students at 3^rd grade who met the state reading standard.

2. Bradshaw, C.,Koth, C., Bevans, K., Ialongo, N., & Leaf, P. (in press). The impact of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) on the organizational health of elementary schools.School Psychology Quarterly.

Bradshaw et al., document that implementation of school-wide PBIS by typical implementation personnel was successful in achieving high fidelity of adoption, and improved “organizational health” within the schools.

3. Bradshaw, C., Reinke, W., Brown, L., Bevans, K., & Leaf, P. (2008).Implementation of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) in elementary schools: Observations from a randomized trial.Education and Treatment of Children, 31, 1-26.

The authors document a randomized control trial of SWPBIS with observations from school implementers.

4. Bradshaw, C., Mitchell, M., & Leaf, P. (in press).Examining the effects of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports on student outcomes: Results from a randomized controlled effectiveness trial in elementary schools. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions.

This randomized control trial documents experimentally that implementation of SWPBIS was related to (a) high fidelity of implementation, (b) reduction in office discipline referrals, (c) reduction in suspensions, and (c) improved fifth grade academic performance.

5. Sprague, J., & Biglan, A., et al (in progress).A Randomized Control Trial of SWPBS with Middle Schools.

This research in currently in data-collection phase, with preliminary results presented a professional conferences indicating reduction in problem behavior levels when SWPBS core features were implemented.Publishable results are anticipated for 2010.

6. Wagner, M., Sumi, C., et al., (under consideration). Effectiveness Study of School-wide Positive Behavior Support.

This grant proposal is under review.The grant proposes a four year randomized control analysis of SWPBS across three states.If funded the study would produce results in 2011.