Are Breaks Better? A Direct Comparison of the Breaks are Better Program to Standard Protocol Check-in Check-out

Abstract

Tier 2 behavioral interventions support the development and reinforcement of prosocial behaviors for at-risk students. While popular Tier 2 programs, like check-in check-out (CICO), increase positive adult attention and behavioral feedback, very few include components explicitly aimed at addressing escape-maintained problem behavior. Breaks are Better (BrB) is a function-based version of CICO that incorporates components targeting escape-maintained behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine if BrB led to decreases in problem behavior, increases in academic engagement, and increases in points earned on a Daily Progress Report as compared to standard protocol CICO. Overall results were mixed and ranged from strong effects of BrB to no effects. Potential explanations for findings and directions for future research are discussed.