Faculty
Research
Interests
My
research focuses on psychosocial interventions for ADHD. Because
children with ADHD often have difficulties in the school setting,
within the context of the family-child relationship, and in
relating to their peers, I am interested in conducting research
in all settings in which children are impaired.
The research that is currently being conducted in my lab focuses
on three different aspects of the implementation of treatment
for ADHD. First, I am currently collecting data investigating
the role of motivation for change in outcomes of parents attending
a behavioral parent training class. While we know that behavioral
parent training is an empirically supported treatment for ADHD,
I am interested in investigating why it can be difficult to
engage parents in treatment. The long-term goal of this study
is to determine whether there are ways to increase engagement
and compliance so that a greater number of children and families
can be treated successfully.
My lab is also interested in basic research investigating the
use of behavior modification in children with ADHD. Such questions
include what is the best sequence of treatments for children,
in what intensity, and in what settings. We are going to be
conducting a Summer Treatment Program, an intensive behavioral
intervention for children, in the summer of 2008, where we will
continue to collect data to help answer these questions.
We are also interested in how children with ADHD can be best
treated in the classroom. Teacher knowledge, training, and willingness
to implement behavioral interventions have important implications
for treatment. Similar to concerns about parental engagement
in treatment, I am interested in investigating what may be barriers
to teachers implementing behavioral interventions. The goal
of this line of research is to help disseminate empirically
supported interventions into the classroom.
Representative Publications
Coles, E.K., Pelham, W.E., Gnagy, E.M., Burrows-MacLean, L.,
Fabiano, G.A., Chacko, A., Wymbs, B.T., Tresco, K.T., Walker,
K.S., Robb, J.A. (2005). A controlled evaluation of behavioral
treatment with children with ADHD attending a summer treatment
program. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders,13(2),
99-112.
Coles, E.K., Pelham, W.E., Gnagy, E.M. (under review). Assessing
parental attributions for success and failure in managing deviant
child behavior.
Fabiano, G.A., Pelham, W.E., Gnagy, E.M., Burrows-MacLean, L.,
Coles, E.K., Chacko, A., Wymbs, B.T., Walker, K.S., Arnold,
F., Garefino, A., Keenan, J.K., Onyango, A.N., Hoffman, M.T.,
Massetti, G.M., & Robb, J.A. (in press). The single and
combined effects of multiple intensities of behavior modification
and multiple intensities of methylphenidate in a classroom setting.
School Psychology Review.
