Individualized Behavioral Intervention in Preschool Settings: The Case of a Child with Physical Aggression

Abstract

Children engage in a multitude of problem behaviour and
managing such behaviours is an unavoidable responsibility of teachers in
today’s schools. This study is conducted to assess the impact of an
individually tailored behavioural intervention plan to eliminate the physical
aggressive behaviour of a child. The intervention plan includes restructuring
the environment, physical restraint, verbal reprimand and differential
reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA). The subject of the study is a
three year and five months old boy of a nursery program. Following an ABAB
withdrawal research design, the intervention is carried out in two settings
concurrently, classroom and playground, with the teachers of the child
assuming as co-interventionists. The intervention result in elimination of
physical aggressive behaviour and follow-up data confirm the maintenance of
the intervention gains. As a by-product of the intervention, a few socially
desirable behaviours could be strengthened. The implications of the findings
are discussed with special emphasis to the ongoing inclusive education move
in Ethiopia.