ACTION RESEARCH PLAN 
Ariana Linger 
Marcela Andrea Diaz 
Gigi Anabel Mejia 
Odette Rumie 
Ana Maria Carvajal
Introduction 
• Name: “Maria Josefina” - 
• Age: 12 Grade: 7th 
• Diagnose: ADHD combined (co-morbid) 
• Problem: 
– Verbal outbursts 
– Not aware of consequences 
– Excluded by peers 
– Behavior affects academic performance
Needs Assessment 
• To design and implement an 
intervention strategy that will 
decrease verbal outburst while 
increasing on-task behavior.
Analysis of Current Policy - 
Mission 
• MISSION: Educational community 
whose mission is to educate its 
students in a bilingual, democratic 
environment to be autonomous, and 
to demonstrate a spirit of inquiry and 
collaboration, a commitment to 
excellence, and the highest aspirations 
for the welfare of both the individual 
and society.
Analysis of Current Policy – 
Principles 
• Democratic practice is a guiding ideal 
that fosters dialogue, respect and 
community. 
• The school has a responsibility to meet 
the needs and support the talents of 
individual students. 
• Community is built by fostering 
relationships based on care and trust 
among all of its members.
Proposed Solution 
• Design and implement an intervention 
strategy that will decrease verbal 
outbursts while increasing on-task 
behavior. 
• Implement Applied Behavior Analysis 
(ABA) strategies: changing criterion 
design
Literature Review 
“Children with ADHD typically have difficulty 
with making and keeping friends, 
primarily because of their high levels of 
verbal and physical aggression. Family 
relationships also can become 
problematic because youngsters with this 
disorder are less likely to follow parental 
directives and are more likely to argue 
with adults” 
(Dupaul & White, March 2006, p-58).
Literature Review 
• “Research also suggests that children 
with ADHD are more likely than 
typically developing classmates to be 
rejected socially and to have greater 
difficulties with their peers” 
(Dupaul et al. 2011, p.35 as cited in 
Hinshaw, 2002).
Literature Review 
• “The changing criterion design 
evaluates the effectiveness of an 
independent variable by 
demonstrating that a behavior can be 
incrementally increased or decreased 
toward a terminal performance goal.”
Literature Review 
Two major phases: 
• The first phase (as in all single-subject 
research designs) is baseline. 
• The second phase is intervention
Literature Review 
• Each sub phase has an interim 
criterion toward the terminal goal. 
• Each sub phase requires a closer 
approximation of the terminal 
behavior or level of performance than 
the previous one. 
• The student´s performance thus 
moves incrementally from the baseline 
level to the terminal objective.
Literature Review 
Recommended Interventions 
• Medication 
• Behavioral 
• Academic
Literature Review 
Behavioral Interventions: Antecedent-based 
strategies 
• Posting rules 
• Modifying the length of assignment 
• Giving Choices for task completion 
• Peer tutoring 
Behavioral Interventions: Consequent-based 
procedures 
• Point or reward systems 
• Daily report cards 
• Time out from positive reinforcement
Literature Review 
Academic Interventions: 
• Peer tutoring 
• Computer-assisted instruction (e.g. use 
of Ipod Touch) 
• Individualized, direct instruction in 
specific academic skills
Method 
1. Functional Assessment 
a. Define the target behavior (ABC 
Observation Form) 
b. Determine the contextual factors 
affecting the behavior (Interview the 
student and her parents) 
c. Define the function of the behavior / 
form a hypothesis 
2. PD Training 
a. Define intervention strategy
Method 
3. Behavior Support Plan 
a. Single-subject design - Changing criteria 
design 
b. Collect data under baseline conditions - five 
random class periods over one week (Event 
Recording form) 
c. Determine terminal goal 
d. Define the level of performance at each 
interim level (set at, and then increased by, 
the amount equal to the mean) – 5 
consecutive measurements (Baseline data 
1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) for a total of six weeks
Method 
Self-monitoring intervention strategy 
a. Set terminal goal and performance goal – 
revise if necessary 
b. Decide on rewards to be granted when 
goals are met 
c. Instruct the student in the use of data 
collection system 
d. Teach student to discriminate target 
behavior 
e. Use visual cues to help the student to self-monitor 
target behavior 
f. Meet on a weekly basis to assess progress
Multidisciplinary Team 
Middle school 
principal 
Parents 
Counselor 
General 
ed 
teachers 
Other members 
of the community 
Special ed 
teacher
Assessment 
• Weekly meetings and evaluation of 
goal – necessary modifications on the 
intervention 
• Maintenance plan 
• Follow-up monthly meetings 
• Annual revision – IEP Meetings
Impact 
• Increased self-confidence as a learner 
• Improved social relationships with peers 
• Optimized learning environment 
• Enhanced and increased PD opportunities 
• Renewed perception of LD students 
• Set a precedent for future interventions 
• Stepping stone for PBIS
YOU Can Make a Difference!
Thank You!

Action Research Plan

  • 1.
    ACTION RESEARCH PLAN Ariana Linger Marcela Andrea Diaz Gigi Anabel Mejia Odette Rumie Ana Maria Carvajal
  • 2.
    Introduction • Name:“Maria Josefina” - • Age: 12 Grade: 7th • Diagnose: ADHD combined (co-morbid) • Problem: – Verbal outbursts – Not aware of consequences – Excluded by peers – Behavior affects academic performance
  • 3.
    Needs Assessment •To design and implement an intervention strategy that will decrease verbal outburst while increasing on-task behavior.
  • 4.
    Analysis of CurrentPolicy - Mission • MISSION: Educational community whose mission is to educate its students in a bilingual, democratic environment to be autonomous, and to demonstrate a spirit of inquiry and collaboration, a commitment to excellence, and the highest aspirations for the welfare of both the individual and society.
  • 5.
    Analysis of CurrentPolicy – Principles • Democratic practice is a guiding ideal that fosters dialogue, respect and community. • The school has a responsibility to meet the needs and support the talents of individual students. • Community is built by fostering relationships based on care and trust among all of its members.
  • 6.
    Proposed Solution •Design and implement an intervention strategy that will decrease verbal outbursts while increasing on-task behavior. • Implement Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) strategies: changing criterion design
  • 7.
    Literature Review “Childrenwith ADHD typically have difficulty with making and keeping friends, primarily because of their high levels of verbal and physical aggression. Family relationships also can become problematic because youngsters with this disorder are less likely to follow parental directives and are more likely to argue with adults” (Dupaul & White, March 2006, p-58).
  • 8.
    Literature Review •“Research also suggests that children with ADHD are more likely than typically developing classmates to be rejected socially and to have greater difficulties with their peers” (Dupaul et al. 2011, p.35 as cited in Hinshaw, 2002).
  • 9.
    Literature Review •“The changing criterion design evaluates the effectiveness of an independent variable by demonstrating that a behavior can be incrementally increased or decreased toward a terminal performance goal.”
  • 10.
    Literature Review Twomajor phases: • The first phase (as in all single-subject research designs) is baseline. • The second phase is intervention
  • 11.
    Literature Review •Each sub phase has an interim criterion toward the terminal goal. • Each sub phase requires a closer approximation of the terminal behavior or level of performance than the previous one. • The student´s performance thus moves incrementally from the baseline level to the terminal objective.
  • 12.
    Literature Review RecommendedInterventions • Medication • Behavioral • Academic
  • 13.
    Literature Review BehavioralInterventions: Antecedent-based strategies • Posting rules • Modifying the length of assignment • Giving Choices for task completion • Peer tutoring Behavioral Interventions: Consequent-based procedures • Point or reward systems • Daily report cards • Time out from positive reinforcement
  • 14.
    Literature Review AcademicInterventions: • Peer tutoring • Computer-assisted instruction (e.g. use of Ipod Touch) • Individualized, direct instruction in specific academic skills
  • 15.
    Method 1. FunctionalAssessment a. Define the target behavior (ABC Observation Form) b. Determine the contextual factors affecting the behavior (Interview the student and her parents) c. Define the function of the behavior / form a hypothesis 2. PD Training a. Define intervention strategy
  • 16.
    Method 3. BehaviorSupport Plan a. Single-subject design - Changing criteria design b. Collect data under baseline conditions - five random class periods over one week (Event Recording form) c. Determine terminal goal d. Define the level of performance at each interim level (set at, and then increased by, the amount equal to the mean) – 5 consecutive measurements (Baseline data 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) for a total of six weeks
  • 17.
    Method Self-monitoring interventionstrategy a. Set terminal goal and performance goal – revise if necessary b. Decide on rewards to be granted when goals are met c. Instruct the student in the use of data collection system d. Teach student to discriminate target behavior e. Use visual cues to help the student to self-monitor target behavior f. Meet on a weekly basis to assess progress
  • 18.
    Multidisciplinary Team Middleschool principal Parents Counselor General ed teachers Other members of the community Special ed teacher
  • 19.
    Assessment • Weeklymeetings and evaluation of goal – necessary modifications on the intervention • Maintenance plan • Follow-up monthly meetings • Annual revision – IEP Meetings
  • 20.
    Impact • Increasedself-confidence as a learner • Improved social relationships with peers • Optimized learning environment • Enhanced and increased PD opportunities • Renewed perception of LD students • Set a precedent for future interventions • Stepping stone for PBIS
  • 21.
    YOU Can Makea Difference!
  • 22.