Quantifying Intervention Intensity: A Systematic Approach to Evaluating Student Response to Increasing Intervention Frequency

Response to intervention (RTI) has been discussed as a new model of assessment. Although the basic process by which RTI works has received frequent attention in the literature, the available research leaves several important questions unanswered (Kavale et al. in Learn Disabil Q 28(1): 2–16, 2005). One concept within RTI that has received little empirical consideration is intervention intensity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the application of increased intervention frequency on the mathematics performance of students and to evaluate this increased frequency as a systematic means of increasing and quantifying intervention strength. Results indicate that although all students were responsive to the intervention, some participants were sensitive only to more frequent application of the treatment or at more intense levels of treatment. Through this methodology a means of quantifying treatment intensity was also identified and implications for future research are discussed.     

Counting blessings in early adolescents: An experimental study of gratitude and subjective well-being

The development and manifestation of gratitude in youth is unclear. We examined the effects of a grateful outlook on subjective well-being and other outcomes of positive psychological functioning in 221 early adolescents. Eleven classes were randomly assigned to either a gratitude, hassles, or control condition. Results indicated that counting blessings was associated with enhanced self-reported gratitude, optimism, life satisfaction, and decreased negative affect. Feeling grateful in response to aid mediated the relationship between experimental condition and general gratitude at the 3-week follow-up. The most significant finding was the robust relationship between gratitude and satisfaction with school experience at both the immediate post-test and 3-week follow-up. Counting blessings seems to be an effective intervention for well-being enhancement in early adolescents.     

Critical Time Intervention for Homeless People Making the Transition to Community Living: A Randomized Controlled Trial

To help create an evidence base in Europe for effective interventions that improve the well‐being of homeless people, we tested whether critical time intervention (CTI), a time‐limited intervention developed to support vulnerable people during times of transition, is effective outside the United States. For this multicenter, parallel‐group randomized controlled trial, 183 adults who were moving from shelters in the Netherlands to supported or independent housing were allocated to CTI or care‐as‐usual. The primary outcome was number of days rehoused, which was assessed by interviewing participants four times during a 9‐month follow‐up. Outcomes were analyzed with three‐level mixed‐effects models. The primary outcome did not differ between groups. CTI had a significant effect on family support and, for people experiencing less social support, psychological distress. Groups did not differ significantly on social support, fulfillment of care needs, quality of life, self‐esteem, excessive alcohol use, or cannabis use. Because few participants were homeless at 9 months, more research is needed to establish whether CTI can prevent long‐term recurrent homelessness. Given recent emphasis on informal support in public services and positive effects of CTI on family support and psychological distress, CTI is a fitting intervention for Dutch shelter services.     

Evaluation of a Family Systems Intervention for Managing Pediatric Chronic Illness: Mastering Each New Direction (MEND)

Family systems play a crucial, albeit complex, role in pediatric chronic illness. Unfortunately, very few psychosocial interventions are available to help these stressed families navigate the developmental steps of chronic illness. A new intervention (MEND) addresses the needs of these families and applies to a broad range of chronic illnesses. This article presents this family systems intervention as well as includes preliminary program evaluation data on 22 families that graduated from the program. Results show consistently strong effects across an array of psychosocial measures. Conclusions from this preliminary study suggest that families entering MEND present with high levels of stress due to the child's chronic illness, but after MEND, the level of stress and other functioning measures are comparable to those seen in healthy families, suggesting that the program offers a significant benefit to families with pediatric chronic illness.     

Teaching letter sounds to kindergarten English language learners using incremental rehearsal

Proficiency in letter–sound correspondence is important for decoding connected text. This study examined the effects of an evidence-based intervention, incremental rehearsal (IR), on the letter–sound expression of three kindergarten English language learners (ELLs) performing below the district benchmark for letter–sound fluency. Participants were native speakers of Hmong, Spanish, and Polish. A multiple-baseline design across sets of unknown letter sounds was used to evaluate the effects of IR on letter–sound expression. Visual analysis of the data showed an increase in level and trend when IR was introduced in each phase. Percentage of all non-overlapping data (PAND) ranged from 95% to 100%. All participants exceeded expected growth and reached the spring district benchmark for letter–sound fluency. Results suggest that IR is a promising intervention for increasing letter–sound expression for ELLs who evidence delays in acquiring letter sounds.     

Intervenciones psicológicas para cuidadores con síntomas depresivos: revisión sistemática y metanálisis

It has been well determined that nonprofessional caregiving, which is a fundamental component of care to dependent persons, may lead to an increased risk for mental disorders in caregivers, especially depression. This paper sought to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the efficacy of psychological interventions to reduce depressive symptoms aimed at nonprofessional caregivers. A comprehensive search of studies published from 1980 to 2013 was conducted in Medline and PsycInfo databases, as well as in the references of other reviews, meta-analysis and relevant book chapters, thereby shortlisting 13 papers. Although most of the interventions reached positive results in decreasing depressive symptomatology, their effects in general were moderate (ES = −0.49, 95% CI [−0.62, −0.36]). Important advances have been produced regarding the quality of the studies, but some limitations are still found which restrict the scope of their findings. It is necessary to conduct further studies that meet excellence standards and, more concretely, regarding indicated prevention of depression.     

Differential effects of the KiVa anti-bullying program on popular and unpopular bullies

This study utilized data from the evaluation of the Finnish KiVa program in testing the prediction that school bullies' high perceived popularity would impede the success of anti-bullying interventions. Multiple-group structural equation modeling (SEM) analyses were conducted on a subsample of 911 third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders identified as perpetrators of bullying. They belonged to 77 Finnish schools, including 39 schools implementing the KiVa program and 38 control schools. Data on peer-reported bullying and perceived popularity were collected before program implementation and one year later. Controlling for sex, age, and initial levels of bullying, KiVa participation resulted in lower rates of bullying (indicated by fewer peer nominations) after one year for bullies of low and medium popularity. However, there was no significant effect for those high in popularity, suggesting that popular bullies are less responsive to anti-bullying interventions than less popular bullies.     

Testing mediator variables in a physical activity intervention for women with type 2 diabetes

ObjectivesA limited understanding of the mechanisms of behavior change has hindered the development of more effective interventions. The aim of this study was to identify potential mediators of objectively measured physical activity (PA) behavior change in women with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).DesignMediation test of a randomized controlled trial.MethodWomen with T2DM (n = 93) from the control group (standard PA materials, n = 44) and the full intervention group (control + stage-matched printed material and telephone counseling, n = 49) of a larger PA intervention trial were included. PA outcomes were minutes of MET weighted moderate and vigorous PA/week (self-report) and steps/3-days (objective) recorded at baseline and 12-months. Social-cognitive constructs were measured and tested in a mediating variable framework.ResultsPerceived behavioral control and barrier self-efficacy mediated intervention effects on objective PA (proportion of intervention effect mediated = 18% and 24% respectively). Intention was a mediator of objective PA (23%).ConclusionPerceived behavior control, barrier self-efficacy, and intention are effective mechanisms of PA behavior change in women with T2DM.     

What is “Intervention”?

I begin by noting that several theologians and others object to special divine action (divine intervention and action beyond conservation and creation) on the grounds that it is incompatible with science. These theologians are thinking of classical Newtonian science; I argue that in fact classical science is in no way incompatible with special divine action, including miracle. What is incompatible with special divine action is the Laplacean picture, which involves the causal closure of the universe. I then note that contemporary, quantum mechanical science doesn't even initially appear to be incompatible with special divine action. Nevertheless, many who are well aware of the quantum mechanical revolution (including some members of the Special Divine Action Project) still find a problem with special divine action, hoping to find an understanding of it that doesn't involve divine intervention. I argue that their objections to intervention are not sound. Furthermore, it isn't even possible to say what intervention is, given the quantum mechanical framework. I conclude by offering an account of special divine action that isn't open to their objections to intervention.     

Application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour in Behaviour Change Interventions: A Systematic Review

This paper reviews studies explicitly applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to behaviour change interventions. A systematic and multiple search strategy identified 30 papers, describing 24 distinct interventions. Studies were rarely explicit about use of the TPB. The TPB was mainly used to measure process and outcome variables and to predict intention and behaviour, and less commonly to develop the intervention. Behaviour change methods were mostly persuasion and information, with increasing skills, goal setting, and rehearsal of skills used less often. When reported, half of the interventions were effective in changing intention, and two-thirds in changing behaviour, with generally small effect sizes, where calculable. Effectiveness was unrelated to use of the theory to develop interventions. Evidence about mediation of effects by TPB components was sparse. The TPB may have potential for developing behaviour change interventions, but more comprehensive studies are needed that compare the utility of the TPB with other social cognition models and behavioural techniques.