Applying behavior analysis to school violence and discipline problems: Schoolwide positive behavior support.
Schoolwide PBIS is ABA applied to whole schools, not a loose character-ed program.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Walley et al. (2005) wrote a narrative review. They explained how schoolwide positive behavior support uses ABA ideas.
The paper argues that PBIS can replace old-style discipline with proactive, data-based systems.
What they found
The review says schoolwide PBIS cuts discipline problems when it is grounded in ABA.
No new data were shown; the paper links existing stories into one argument.
How this fits with other research
Reeve et al. (2016) later defended the same link. Their reply shows the field still debates whether PBIS is "real ABA."
van Timmeren et al. (2016) extended the idea by listing Tier I–III practices, turning the 2005 concept into a practice menu.
Dykens et al. (1991) ran an early ABA schooling package. Their strong data foreshadowed the schoolwide move M et al. later reviewed.
Why it matters
You can tell skeptical coworkers that PBIS is not a fad; it is ABA at scale. Use the three-tier frame from van Timmeren et al. (2016) to pick class, group, and individual tactics. Start with one Tier I practice, like behavior-specific praise, and track office referrals to show the system works.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
School discipline is a growing concern in the United States. Educators frequently are faced with discipline problems ranging from infrequent but extreme problems (e.g., shootings) to less severe problems that occur at high frequency (e.g., bullying, insubordination, tardiness, and fighting). Unfortunately, teachers report feeling ill prepared to deal effectively with discipline problems in schools. Further, research suggests that many commonly used strategies, such as suspension, expulsion, and other reactive strategies, are not effective for ameliorating discipline problems and may, in fact, make the situation worse. The principles and technology of behavior analysis have been demonstrated to be extremely effective for decreasing problem behavior and increasing social skills exhibited by school children. Recently, these principles and techniques have been applied at the level of the entire school, in a movement termed schoolwide positive behavior support. In this paper we review the tenets of schoolwide positive behavior support, demonstrating the relation between this technology and applied behavior analysis.
The Behavior analyst, 2005 · doi:10.1007/BF03392103