Examination of the Mechanisms Underlying Effectiveness of The Turtle Technique
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education
Published online on January 29, 2013
Abstract
A significant number of young children exhibit challenging behaviors in preschool settings. A tiered framework of intervention has documented effectiveness in elementary and secondary schools, and recently has been extended to preschool settings. Although there is emerging research to support the effectiveness of Tier 1 (universal) and Tier 3 (intensive) interventions with young children, few studies have evaluated Tier 2 interventions. In this investigation, we examined the effects of the Turtle Technique, a Tier 2 self-control intervention, with three children ages 3 to 4 using a multiple baseline across participants design. In addition, we examined operational components of the intervention. Results showed reductions in behavior following intervention implementation; however, direct observations indicated that the children did not utilize overt techniques as taught. The findings imply that additional research is needed to determine the mechanisms responsible for behavior change as a result of the Turtle Technique.