Effects of Self-Recording on High-School Students' on-Task Behavior

Abstract

Twelve mildly handicapped (9 learning disabled, 2 educable mentally handicapped, and 1 emotionally handicapped) high-school students served as subjects in a study conducted to determine the effects of self-monitoring and recording on student on-task performance. Although only four students from three classes were targeted for data collection, all students in each class were taught how to self-monitor and record —first in the presence of audible cues and later independently as audible cues were faded. A multiple-baseline design across groups revealed a functional relationship between the intervention and increased on-task behavior. Changes were maintained as audible cues were faded. In addition, student accuracy data showed a relationship between increased on-task behavior and accurate self-recording. Anecdotal data indicated that students' academic performance improved in both training and nontraining settings.