Daily Behavior Report Cards Research Articles

The effects of the Daily Behavior Report Cards (DBRC) on the disruptive behavior and specific goal behavior of elementary school children: a multiple baseline design study

This study used a single-case design to investigate the effectiveness of Daily Behavior Report Cards (DBRC) in addressing elementary school children’s disruptive behavior. The study, conducted in a German elementary school, involved ten second-grade students identified by their teachers as exhibiting disruptive behaviors. The procedures included training teachers in the implementation of DBRC, setting specific behavioral goals for each student, and using the Direct Behavior Rating (DBR) to assess General Disruptive Behavior (GDB) and Specific Goal Behavior (SGB). The DBRC was implemented over 120 days, with daily monitoring and feedback provided to students. The results demonstrated a significant reduction in both variables. The data analysis was conducted using regression-based analyses and the Non-Overlap of All Pairs (NAP). This study confirms the effectiveness of DBRC in mitigating disruptive behaviors and achieving specific behavioral goals, thereby contributing valuable insights into the application of this evidence-based intervention within the German elementary school system. It also highlights the utility of the single-case design in educational research.

The Effects of an Electronic Daily Behavior Report Card on Student’s Challenging Behavior

An ABAB reversal design was utilized to examine the effects of an electronic daily behavior report card (eDBRC) on non-compliant, off-task, and disruptive classroom behaviors of a 16-year-old with autism spectrum disorder and a 17-year-old with an intellectual disability. The intervention was implemented by two preservice teachers (interventionists) in their final student teaching requirement. In addition to visual analysis procedures, effect sizes (i.e., Tau-U) were calculated. The research questions were: (1) What are the effects of eDBRCs on participants’ disruptive and challenging classroom behaviors, (2) To what extent do preservice teachers implement eDBRCs with fidelity, and (3) Are eDBRCs a socially valid intervention? Upon completion of our study the eDBRC was effective in reducing non-compliant, off-task, and disruptive behaviors. We found that preservice special educators can implement a complex behavior intervention to support the outcomes of their learners during the student teaching experience. Additionally, we suggest eDBRCs are an acceptable intervention for students with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities.

Using and Evaluating Daily Behavior Report Cards for Students With Challenging Behaviors

Teachers who work with students who display challenging behaviors need to implement interventions to support them in the classroom. A daily behavior report card (DBRC) is one intervention that research suggests can reduce challenging behaviors and replace them with more socially appropriate behaviors. With step-by-step instructions, this column describes how to implement and evaluate DBRCs to support students displaying challenging behaviors.

The Effects of a Daily Behavior Report Card Intervention: Inclusion of a Peer Mediator

Daily Behavior Report Cards (DBRCs) have been found to decrease disruptive behaviors of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, intellectual and developmental disorders, and typically developing students. However, although previous studies indicate that peers can assist with the implementation of a variety of interventions (e.g., Check in check out), teachers are often the implementer of DBRCs. In addition, it appears that no studies evaluating DBRCs have included a functional assessment. Thus, the purposes of this study were to assess the effects of a peer-mediated DBRC on disruptive classroom behaviors, determine whether peers could implement their portion of the intervention procedures with high integrity, and assess whether DBRC was effective independent of the functional reinforcer for disruptive behavior. In this study, peer-mediated DBRC led to a decrease in disruptive behavior and an increase in on-task behavior for all three target students who were at risk for EBD. The peer mediators also implemented the DBRC procedures with high integrity. Furthermore, DBRC was effective at suppressing disruptive behavior independent of their presumed functional reinforcer. However, it does appear that different portions of the intervention likely addressed the hypothesized functions of problem behaviors of all three participants.

Using a Daily Report Card to Reduce Off-Task Behaviors for a Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Daily behavior report cards (DBRCs) have shown promise in reducing problematic classroom behaviors. The effectiveness of DBRCs has been used widely examined with respect to students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, specific learning disabilities, and other high incidence disabilities. Past research has primarily focused on students in primary grades, with a limited number of studies examining students in secondary grades, in particular students in high school. Even fewer studies have examined the effectiveness of DBRCs implemented by novice special educators. The purpose of the current study was twofold: (1) to examine the effectiveness of a DBRC in reducing off-task classroom behavior for a high school student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and (2) to evaluate the delivery of an intensive intervention by a novice special education teacher. A preservice special education teacher implemented the intervention. A changing criterion design was used to examine the effectiveness of the intervention. We analyzed the data using visual analysis and calculated effect sizes using Tau-U. The results suggested that DBRCs are an acceptable and effective treatment for reducing off-task behavior with a student with ASD when implemented by a novice special education teacher. Data were collected to measure the novice teacher’s implementation fidelity. Additionally, the results showed that a novice special education teacher can be trained to implement a behavior management program for a student presenting inappropriate classroom behaviors with high fidelity.

The Effectiveness of Daily Behavior Report Cards for Children With ADHD: A Meta-Analysis

Objective: This meta-analysis examined group-design studies investigating the effectiveness of Daily Behavior Report Cards (DBRC) as a school-based intervention to manage the classroom behavior of students with ADHD. Methods: A search of three article databases (PsycINFO, ERIC and Medline) identified seven group design evaluations of DBRC interventions. This meta-analysis included a total of 272 participants, with an average age of 7.9 years old. Three of the studies compared a control group to a treatment group with randomized group assignment, one study compared a control group to three treatment groups, two studies compared pre-and post-treatment scores in the same group, and one study compared pre-and post-treatment results of two intervention groups without random assignment. Dependent measures for these studies were teacher ratings (n = 5) and systematic direct observation of student academic and social behaviour (n = 2). Standardized mean differences (Hedge’s g) were calculated to obtain a pooled effect size using fixed effects. Results: DBRCs were associated with reductions teacher-rated ADHD symptoms, with a Hedge’s g of 0.36 (95% CI: 0.12-0.60, z=2.93, p ≤ .005) with low heterogeneity (Q-value: 2.40, I2 = 0.00). This result excluded two studies that used observational coding instead of standardized tests to evaluate the effects of the intervention. A moderator analysis indicated that the effect size for systematic direct observation was large (Hedge’s G = 1.05[95% CI: 0.66-1.44, z=5.25, p ≤ .00]), with very high heterogeneity (Q-value: 46.34, I2: 93.53). A second moderator analysis found differences in the effects of DBRCs for comorbid externalizing symptoms with an overall effect size of 0.34 (95%CI: -0.04-0.72, z=1.76 p =0.08) with high heterogeneity (Q-value: 3.98, I2: 74.85). Conclusions: DBRCs effectively reduce the frequency and severity of ADHD symptoms in classroom settings. Additionally, they have a significant effect on co-occuring externalizing behaviors. It appears that systematic direct observation may be a more sensitive measure of treatment effects compared to teacher ratings of ADHD symptoms.

Formative Assessment Using Direct Behavior Ratings: Evaluating Intervention Effects of Daily Behavior Report Cards

This study examined the treatment sensitivity of Direct Behavior Rating–Single Item Scales (DBR-SIS) in response to an evidence-based intervention delivered in a single-case, multiple-baseline design. DBR-SIS was used as a formative assessment in conjunction with a frequently used intervention in schools, a Daily Behavior Report Card (DRC). The intervention and concurrent assessment were conducted by five teachers in a rural Midwestern elementary school with five male students displaying mild to moderate behavioral challenges in the classroom. Study findings indicated DBR-SIS displays appropriate treatment sensitivity following intervention implementation. Agreement in the documentation of response and nonresponse to intervention implementation between DBR-SIS and systematic direct observation (SDO) data was evident across visual and empirical analyses. In addition, through a multiple-baseline design, this study documented negligible to no change in student behavior following implementation of a DRC in an applied classroom setting. These findings support previous calls for continued examination of the forms and components of DRC employed in schools. Finally, the study found educators rated the use of a combined DRC intervention and progress monitoring with DBR-SIS as favorable.

Classification accuracy and acceptability of the Integrated Screening and Intervention System Teacher Rating Form.

This study examines the classification accuracy and teacher acceptability of a problem-focused screener for academic and disruptive behavior problems, which is directly linked to evidence-based intervention. Participants included 39 classroom teachers from 2 public school districts in the Northeastern United States. Teacher ratings were obtained for 390 students in Grades K-6. Data from the screening instrument demonstrate favorable classification accuracy, and teacher ratings of feasibility and acceptability support the use of the measure for universal screening in elementary school settings. Results indicate the novel measure should facilitate classroom intervention for problem behaviors by identifying at-risk students and informing targets for daily behavior report card interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record

Using Daily Behavior Report Cards during Extended School Year Services for Young Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Using Daily Behavior Report Cards during Extended School Year Services for Young Students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Self-monitoring as a viable fading option in check-in/check-out

This study systematically replaced the teacher completed Daily Behavior Report Card (DBRC) and feedback component of check-in/check-out (CICO) with self-monitoring for four elementary students referred for Tier 2 behavioral supports within School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS). An ABAB withdrawal design was used to test the effectiveness of CICO. Then, following the second B phase, teacher completion of the DBRC and corresponding feedback to students was replaced with self-monitoring. For all four participants, CICO was associated with increases in academic engagement and reductions in disruptive behavior. Moreover, students' behavioral gains were maintained when teacher completion of the DBRC was replaced with self-monitoring. Results are discussed in terms of CICO research and practice.

Development of a problem-focused behavioral screener linked to evidence-based intervention.

This study examines the factor structure, reliability and validity of a novel school-based screening instrument for academic and disruptive behavior problems commonly experienced by children and adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants included 39 classroom teachers from two public school districts in the northeastern United States. Teacher ratings were obtained for 390 students in grades K-6. Exploratory factor analysis supports a two-factor structure (oppositional/disruptive and academic productivity/disorganization). Data from the screening instrument demonstrate favorable internal consistency, temporal stability and convergent validity. The novel measure should facilitate classroom intervention for problem behaviors associated with ADHD by identifying at-risk students and determining specific targets for daily behavior report card interventions.

Modifying Students' Classroom Behaviors Using an Electronic Daily Behavior Report Card

This study examined the effects of e-mailed daily behavior report cards (DBRC) on students' disruptive classroom behaviors. Additionally, teacher acceptability of e-mailed DBRC as an intervention was assessed. Participants included 46 elementary students (37 males and 9 females), that were assigned to one of three conditions; delayed treatment control, e-mailed DBRC, and e-mailed DBRC with performance feedback. Student behaviors were measured by direct observations and teacher ratings. Results suggest that e-mailed DBRC can decrease students' disruptive behaviors, that e-mailed DBRC with performance feedback did not produce superior outcomes, and that e-mailed DBRC was perceived as acceptable.

Daily Behavior Report Cards with and without Home-Based Consequences: Improving Classroom Behavior in Low Income, African American Children with ADHD

Daily Behavior Report Cards (DBRC), which typically require teachers to evaluate students' daily behavior and parents to provide contingent consequences, are an effective and acceptable method for improving children's classroom behavior. The current study evaluated whether parent involvement is an essential treatment component or whether teacher feedback alone would be sufficient to produce children's behavior changes. The effectiveness of DBRC with teacher feedback to students and parent delivered consequences (PC) was compared to teacher feedback to students only (no parent delivered consequences, NPC) for increasing appropriate classroom behavior and academic productivity in African American, low income, elementary school children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Both treatments led to increased on-task behavior, although PC was superior to NPC. Academic productivity outcomes are less clear. Treatment implications and future directions for research on teacher feedback interventions are discussed.

An Investigation of the Technical Adequacy of a Daily Behavior Report Card (DBRC) for Monitoring Progress of Students With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Special Education Placements

Many children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are eligible for special education services because of problems with academic and/or social functioning. Thus, a considerable proportion of children with ADHD have individualized education plans (IEPs) that list operationalized goals and objectives for each student. Conceptually, the majority of these children fall within Tiers 2 and 3 of a tiered intervention system because of a need for more intensive behavioral supports. Given the potentially variable behavior of these students in classroom settings and a concurrent need to demonstrate the effectiveness of intervention outcomes, frequent and sustained monitoring of goals and objectives is necessary. For this purpose, direct behavior rating scales such as a Daily Behavior Report Card (DBRC) may serve as an efficient and effective mechanism for progress monitoring. In a sample of 63 students with ADHD receiving special education services, initial psychometric information for the temporal stability, interrater reliability, and content validity of an idiographic, multi-item DBRC is presented. Procedures for integrating a DBRC into standard progress monitoring procedures likely to be useful in intervention monitoring at Tiers 2 and 3 are discussed.

Daily Behavior Report Cards and Systematic Direct Observation: An Investigation of the Acceptability, Reported Training and Use, and Decision Reliability Among School Psychologists

More than ever, educators require assessment procedures and instrumentation that are technically adequate as well as efficient to guide data-based decision making. Thus, there is a need to understand perceptions of available tools, and the decisions made when using collected data, by the primary users of those data. In this paper, two studies that surveyed members of the National Association of School Psychologists with regard to two procedures useful in formative assessment, (i.e., Daily Behavior Report Cards; Systematic Direct Observation), are presented. Participants reported greater overall levels of training and use of Systematic Direct Observation than Daily Behavior Report Cards, yet both techniques were rated as equally acceptable for use in formative assessment. Furthermore, findings supported that school psychologists tend to make similar intervention decisions when presented with both types of data. Implications, limitations, and future directions are discussed.

Applying Response to Intervention Metrics in the Social Domain for Students at Risk of Developing Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

Response to Intervention (RtI) has become an important element of policy, practice, and research since the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In this article, five metrics recommended by Gresham (2005) were used to evaluate the progress of 127 students who were at risk of developing emotional disturbance and enrolled in a Tier 2 targeted group intervention. Student progress on a daily behavior report card was used to identify responders and nonresponders. Results suggest that percentage of change and effect size were the most useful metrics and identified 67% of the students as responders to the intervention. Additionally, 91% of the responders were not identified for special education, and over 50% reduced their problem behavior ratings on the Social Skills Rating System Teacher Form. These findings suggest that the intervention reduced the student's at-risk status and helped prevent the development of emotional and behavioral disabilities.

Daily Behavior Report Cards

In this study, the consistency of on-task data collected across raters using either a Daily Behavior Report Card (DBRC) or systematic direct observation was examined to begin to understand the decision reliability of using DBRCs to monitor student behavior. Results suggested very similar conclusions might be drawn when visually examining data collected by an external observer using either systematic direct observation or a DBRC. In addition, similar conclusions might be drawn upon visual analysis of either systematic direct observation or DBRC data collected by an external observer versus a teacher-completed DBRC. Examination of effect sizes from baseline to intervention phases suggested greater potential for different conclusions to be drawn about student behavior, dependent on the method and rater. In summary, overall consistency of data across method and rater found in this study lends support to the use of DBRCs to estimate global classroom behavior as part of a multimethod assessment. Implications, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

Acceptability and Reported Use of Daily Behavior Report Cards Among Teachers

In this study, a sample of teachers was surveyed regarding their reported use and acceptability of daily behavior report cards (DBRCs). Almost two thirds of responding teachers indicated that they have used versions of DBRCs in their practice. Respondents' use of DBRCs was not restricted to a single purpose or situation. Additional findings suggested that the format of DBRCs varies widely, suggesting that teachers have found the DBRC to be highly adaptive in representing a broad array of possibilities rather than having a single, scripted purpose. An additional noteworthy finding relates to the general acceptance of DBRCs by teachers as both behavior-monitoring tools and as components in interventions. In summary, results provide support to previous claims that the DBRC is both a used and accepted tool in practice, suggesting that DBRCs deserve closer attention in research and practice related to positive behavior supports. Limitations, future directions, and implications are discussed.

Summary of Mode Deactivation Therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Social Skills Training with two year post treatment results.

Abstract This study summarized two treatment research studies and included recidivism data for two years post discharge for group therapy. The study compared Mode deactivation Therapy (MDT), Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), and Social Skills training (SST), results of the MDT series of studies and the two year post-study recidivism data. The data from the studies of Apsche and his colleagues (Apsche, Bass, Siv 2005; Apsche, Bass, Jennings, Murphy, Hunter, and Siv, 2005), were used to demonstrate the overall efficiency in treatment of MDT. The follow-up data suggests the MDT has positive generalization effects post-treatment. Keywords: Recidivism CBT, MDT, SST, Conduct Disorder, Aggression Introduction This research summarized the collected studies of outcome of Apsche and his colleagues. It includes recidivism data for two years since treatment was terminated and the adolescents were discharged. Recidivism data was collected by written surveys sent to parents, guardians and case worker's of the residents. Phone calls were initiated as reminders to case managers and their supervisors to assure confidence. The summary of the data suggests that in three groups of equal size in a total population of 60 male adolescents, MDT was far superior to CBT and SST in reducing aggression, sexual aggression, and psychological distress as measured by the CBCL and DSMD. Further analysis suggests that MDT is superior in reducing recidivism over CBT and SST. Because of MDT's superior results, it is hypothesized that the effects of MDT are superior in generalization to the home environments of the adolescents. MEASURES The measures define how we collected data and checked for reliability in a treatment center. It is important to clarify that treatment research requires that all adolescents receive adequate treatment. There is no total control group, or no treatment, wait list group. A review of the key measures of physical and sexual aggression used in this study consisted of Daily Behavior Reports and Behavior Incident Reports. The Daily Behavior Reports were completed by all levels of staff, both professional and paraprofessional, across all settings of the residential treatment program (e.g., schoolroom, psycho educational classes, treatment activities, residential dormitories, etc.). The Behavior Incident Reports were only completed by staff following the occurrence of serious or critical incidents, namely, acts of physical and sexual aggression. Inter-rater reliability in the use of the measures was determined by independently totaling the number of physical and sexual aggression incidents on both the Daily Behavior Report cards and the Behavior Incident Report forms and calculating the percentage of agreement. The agreement for this study was at the 98% level, as reported by Apsche, et. al. (2005). The baseline (pre-treatment) measure of physical and sexual aggression consisted of the average number of incidents per week that occurred during the first 60 days following admission and the post-treatment measure was the rate of occurrence during the 60 day period prior to discharge. Two assessments were used to measure the behavior of the residents, which included the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL; Achenbach, 1991) and the Devereux Scales of Mental Disorders (DSMD; The Devereux Foundation, 1994). The CBCL is a multi-axial assessment designed to obtain reports regarding the behaviors and competencies of 11 to 18 year olds. The means and standards are divided into three categories: internalizing (which measures withdrawn behaviors, somatic complaints, anxiety and depression), externalizing (which measures delinquent behavior and aggressive behavior), and total problems (which represent the conglomerate of total problems and symptoms, both internal and external). The DSMD illustrates level of functioning in comparison to a normal group, via behavioral ratings. …

What do daily behavior report cards (DBRCs) measure? An initial comparison of DBRCs with direct observation for off-task behavior

This study investigated the similarity of information provided from a daily behavior report card (DBRC) as rated by the teacher to direct observation data obtained from external observers. In addition, the similarity of ratings was compared with variations of problem severity (mild, severe) and teacher training (none, some). Results suggested a moderate association between teacher perceptions of behavior as measured by DBRC ratings and direct observation conducted by an external observer. In addition, 23–45% of the variance in DBRC ratings was consistent with the direct observation data. Severity of the behavior problem or the inclusion of training was not found to significantly affect the similarity of ratings. In summary, results tentatively suggest that the DBRC may be a viable supplement to direct observation for estimating behavior in applied settings. Limitations, future research directions, and implications are discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 669–676, 2005.