Graduation Year

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

M.S.

Degree Name

Master of Science (M.S.)

Degree Granting Department

Child and Family Studies

Major Professor

Kwang-Sun Cho Blair, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Committee Member

Catia Cividini-Motta, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Committee Member

Bryon Miller, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Keywords

antecedent exercise, class-wide intervention, physical activity, school-based intervention, teacher feasibility

Abstract

This study investigated the effectiveness of antecedent physical activity interventions in enhancing academic engagement and task completion among first-grade students displaying off-task behaviors. The research involved three student participants from a first grade general education classroom. An ABAB reversal design was used to assess the impact of the intervention. The intervention, implemented by the classroom teacher, consisted of short, structured physical activities conducted before targeted academic periods. Results revealed significant improvements in both academic engagement and task completion following the implementation of the physical activity interventions. The findings suggest that incorporating brief physical activities into daily classroom routines can lead to immediate and substantial enhancements in student behavior and academic performance. Additionally, high levels of social validity reported by both students and teachers support the acceptability and effectiveness of the intervention. The results indicate that the simplicity and efficiency of the antecedent-based interventions may make them feasible and practical for general education teachers. Overall, this study underscores the potential of using antecedent physical activities as an effective classroom strategy for managing student classroom behavior and promoting academic success.

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