An Investigation of Incremental Effects of Interspersing Math Items on Task-Related Behavior

The purpose of this study was to replicate and extend research on task interspersal. The authors investigated whether changes in on-task behavior of two middle school students were functionally related to changes in the relative percentages of easy and difficult items on math worksheets. They found that the participants remained on task longer while completing worksheets with 33 and 67% interspersed easy problems than while completing worksheets without the interspersed easy problems. Participants’ accuracy in answering the target problems was not affected, however, by the interspersal procedure. The authors concluded that interspersing easy items on independent math seatwork assignments can increase on-task behavior.