Research Projects
Selected Peer-Reviewed Publications
Early childhood teachers' use of an FBA iOS app to support students with challenging behavior
We used a multiple-baseline single case design to determine the functional relation between a behavior support iOS application and early childhood teacher implementation of individualized, function-based strategies. Secondary data were collected on student challenging behavior, and social validity data were collected to understand teacher perspectives of the application.
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Published 2024: Technology, Pedagogy, and Education
Research Team:
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McGuire, Stacy
Folkerts, Rebecca
Richards, Charissa
Meadan, Hedda
Alquaysi, Rayan
Yoon, Christy
Behavior analysis forums and the ethical landscape of social media behaviors
We conducted a content analysis of publicly-available user posts within three ABA subreddits within the social media forum Reddit to explore how behavioral products in ABA social media forums align with the BACB Ethics Code.
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Published February 2024: Behavior Analysis in Practice
Research Team:
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Price, Richard
Martin-Loya, Melanie
Folkerts, Rebecca
Haidar, Ban
Classroom and behavior management training needs and perceptions:
A systematic review of the literature
A systematic literature review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines, including 22 articles published between 2004 and 2022. The included studies presented findings about classroom and behavior management programs or strategies, as well as survey data based on elementary education teachers’ perceptions of classroom and behavior management training.
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Published 2024: Child and Youth Care Forum
Research Team:
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McGuire, Stacy
Meadan, Hedda
Folkerts, Rebecca
Cross Cultural Caregiver Perceptions of Challenging Behavior and Responses
In this exploratory multimethod study, data were collected from four diverse caregiver groups (i.e., Black, Korean American, Mexican American, and White) with young children with disabilities to understand (a) what behaviors they considered challenging and (b) how they responded to those behaviors.
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Published 2021: Early Childhood Education Journal
Research Team:
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McGuire, Stacy
Folkerts, Rebecca
Meadan, Hedda
Adams, Nicole B.
Lee, James D.
Kaza, Meghana
Preparation of Pre-Service Special Education Teachers on Conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments: A Pilot Study
The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the preparation of Illinois pre-service special education teachers for conducting FBAs. Public data were collected on 33 traditional special education licensure programs and their affiliated institutes of higher education. Nine of the 33 participated in the study, with innovation configurations used to analyze special education program course syllabi and questionnaires completed by program faculty.
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Published 2025: Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth
Research Team:
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Folkerts, Rebecca
Meadan, Hedda
Dissertation & Related Research
Functional Behavioral Assessments and Pre-Service Special Education Teachers:
What are We Teaching?
For part one of my multiple-methods dissertation study, I sought to examine the preparation received by pre-service special education teachers on the topic of functional behavioral assessments through a survey design. Participants included 91 pre-service teachers, completing their final year of their programs, from 17 institutes of higher education within Illinois.
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Manuscript in preparation; available on Proquest Summer 2024
Research Team:
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Folkerts, Rebecca
Meadan, Hedda
Online Functional Behavioral Assessment Training for Pre-Service Special Education Teachers: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Part two of my multiple-methods dissertation study involved conducting a randomized-controlled trial with 76 pre-service special education teachers across the state of Illinois. Participants were given a researcher-developed pre- and post-test and a two-hour online training intervention on conducting functional behavioral assessments.
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Manuscript in preparation; available on Proquest Summer 2024
Research Team:
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Folkerts, Rebecca
Meadan, Hedda
Xia, Yan