Date of Award
Fall 2009
Document Type
Dissertation - Restricted
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Educational Policy and Leadership
First Advisor
Fox, Robert
Second Advisor
Burkard, Alan
Third Advisor
Anderson, Rebecca
Abstract
The purpose of the current study is to investigate the use of a new parenting program designed specifically for children of low-income families who have developmental delays and externalizing behavior problems. This program provides income treatment services. Service providers go the families' homes and help enhance the parent-child relationship by educating parents on child-directed play. After parents demonstrate skills in using child-directed play, a behavioral treatment plan is created, incorporating the use of differential reinforcement (i.e., social praise, tangible rewards, or edible rewards) to increase a prosocial behavior as well as discipline strategies (i.e., redirection, ignoring, natural consequences, or time out) to reduce the challenging behaviors. It is expected that families will complete the program, participating in at least six treatment sessions. Specifically, this research is looking to explore whether a new parenting program that incorporates aspects of social learning theory is effective in reducing behavior problems in children with developmental delays and who are from low-income families.