Clinician experiences of homework in couples and family therapy: A survey of perceived impact on the working alliance

The process of engaging clients in homework assignments has been studied extensively in research settings, but rarely have the challenges in the implementation of the science been considered in couples and family therapy. A survey was conducted of 226 clinicians regarding (1) their experience of homework adherence (quantity and quality) with couple and family clients, and (2) their experience of the impact of homework non-completion (IHN) on the working alliance. Clinicians working with families reported less overall homework quantity and quality. However, across both couples and family clients, more negative IHN was reported among clinicians experiencing less homework quantity, both in terms of IHN bond (couple ρ = 0.71, p < 0.001; family ρ = 0.78, p < 0.001) and IHN agreement (couples ρ = 0.25, p < 0.001; ρ = 0.19, p = 0.006), and among clinicians with fewer years of clinical experience (r = 0.19, n = 136, p < 0.05). The present findings suggest that, in the context of couples and family therapy, there is a risk of perceived negative IHN on the working alliance. There would be merit to future investigations examining the processes of facilitating homework engagement within the context of a strong working alliance.     

A point contingency for homework submission in the graduate school classroom

We explored the effects of points versus no points on the submission of homework assignments and quiz performance in a graduate-level course. Students were more likely to submit homework assignments during points weeks, but quiz scores were relatively unaffected.     

Setting Generalization during Self-Reinforcement with Educationally Handicapped Children

Eight educationally handicapped boys ranging in age form 10 to 11 years old and described as the worst behavior problems in their class participated in a series of single-subject studies carried out in their self-contained classrooms. Three served as target subjects, using self-reinforcement procedures to increase their sustained on-task behavior in a treatment setting; five served as generalization subjects. Data were collected in three settings within the self-contained classroom; an early morning treatment setting, a late morning generalization setting, and an afternoon generalization setting. The three target subjects averaged a 51% increase over their baseline median levels of sustained on-task behavior in the treatment setting. They averaged 84% and 96% generalization to the late morning and afternoon generalization settings, respectively. These results demonstrate that self-reinforcement can produce setting generalization of treatment effects in the absence of prior externally determined reinforcement. Evidence for subject and subject-setting generalization was also obtained.     

The Effects of a Learning Station on the Completion and Accuracy of Math Homework for Middle School Students

We studied the effects of a Learning Station on the completion and accuracy of math homework of middle school students who had chronic homework problems. The Learning Station was a three sided free-standing panel with theoretically and empirically-based components involving (a) stimulation (color, music, activity breaks, and choice) and (b) self-attention (mirror and self-monitoring). Two students who used the Station tripled their accuracy and the amount of homework completed as assessed in a multiple baseline across participants design. One student with high academic abilities elected not to use the intervention, because he worked quickly (albeit carelessly) at school to complete his homework during baseline and during intervention. The practical and research implications of the findings are discussed.     

父母婚姻质量对小学生家庭作业努力影响的追踪研究:亲子亲合的中介作用

本研究探讨了父母婚姻质量对小学生家庭作业努力的影响,以及亲子亲合在父母婚姻质量与小学生家庭作业努力之间的中介作用。采用婚姻质量问卷、亲子亲合问卷、作业努力问卷对四个地区625名小学生及其家长进行了为期九个月的三次追踪研究。结果表明:(1)三次测量的父母婚姻质量、亲子亲合、小学生家庭作业努力两两之间存在显著相关;(2)交叉滞后分析显示,父母婚姻质量通过亲子亲合对小学生家庭作业努力产生影响。研究揭示了父母婚姻关系和亲子亲合对小学生家庭作业努力的影响及其作用机制,研究结果对父母参与小学生家庭作业具有启发和指导意义。     

Homework Compliance and Quality in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies for Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Homework assignments are an integral part of cognitive behavioral therapy, providing patients with opportunities to practice skills between sessions. Generally, greater homework compliance is associated with better treatment outcomes. However, fewer studies have examined the effect of homework quality on treatment outcomes. This study examined homework compliance and quality as predictors of outcome and attrition across five CBT protocols. A sample of 179 individuals with principal diagnoses of generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder were randomized to receive a transdiagnostic CBT protocol (the Unified Protocol) or a single-diagnosis CBT protocol corresponding to their principal diagnosis. The Unified Protocol had a lower homework burden than the majority of the single-diagnosis protocols, which varied in degree of assigned homework. Despite this, there were no differences in average homework compliance or quality across principal diagnosis, treatment condition, or their interaction. Homework quality was significantly related to all symptom outcomes (self-reported and clinician-rated anxiety and depressive symptoms, clinician-rated clinical severity). Homework compliance was significantly related to clinician-rated anxiety symptom outcomes. Additionally, greater homework quality and compliance were both significantly associated with increased odds of completing treatment, suggesting homework variables can be useful and easily obtainable predictors of treatment retention.     

Homework

In commemoration of Dr. Aaron T. Beck’s enormous contributions to our field, I comment on the state of our knowledge regarding the role of homework in cognitive behavioral therapy. The available evidence suggests homework is a contributor to positive therapeutic outcomes in cognitive behavioral therapy. Although therapists play an important role in facilitating clients’ engagement with homework as they develop greater facility with CBT skills, little is known about the contributions of specific approaches to promoting homework engagement. I highlight some of these strategies and discuss the need for researchers to empirically evaluate them.     

父母参与作业的自主动机与小学生积极作业情绪:学生作业自主动机与教师支持的作用

采用问卷调查法,以702名小学生为被试,探讨了教师支持、父母参与作业的自主动机和学生家庭作业自主动机影响积极数学家庭作业情绪的内在作用机制。结果发现：（1）父母参与作业的自主动机是积极数学家庭作业情绪的预测因素;（2）学生家庭作业自主动机在父母参与作业的自主动机与积极数学家庭作业情绪之间起完全中介作用;（3）教师支持在父母参与作业的自主动机通过学生家庭作业自主动机影响其积极数学家庭作业情绪的过程中起有中介的调节作用。研究表明,教师支持、父母参与作业的自主动机和学生家庭作业自主动机均是学生积极家庭作业情绪的重要影响因素。     

家庭作业与学业成绩的关系

家庭作业不仅是一种被广泛采用的教学手段,也是学生课后最为重要的学习活动。本文从家庭作业特征、家庭作业完成过程、家庭作业中父母参与和家庭作业对学习效果影响的机制几个方面探讨了家庭作业与学业成绩的关系。最后指出了家庭作业学习效果研究的实践价值和未来研究方向。     

初中生数学家庭作业质量、控制感与作业情绪对作业努力的影响

采用问卷调查法,以 463 名初中生为被试,探讨了初中生感知到的数学家庭作业质量、控制感和家庭作业情绪影响家庭作业努力的内在作用机制。结果发现：(1)积极数学家庭作业情绪和消极数学家庭作业情绪均在数学家庭作业质量和数学家庭作业努力之间起完全中介作用;(2)数学家庭作业质量可以通过数学控制感分别经积极和消极数学家庭作业情绪的多重中介来预测数学家庭作业努力。研究表明,初中生感知到的数学家庭作业质量、控制感和家庭作业情绪均是其家庭作业努力的重要影响因素。