SAFE Behavior Lab (Social Acceptability and Functional Evaluation of Behavior)

My work focuses on the assessment and treatment of severe behavior in individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities. My overarching research interest is the promotion of socially valid outcomes for children and adolescents who engage in severe behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property destruction). Toward that goal, I am exploring how to best facilitate caregiver involvement in the assessment, treatment, and maintenance of treatment effects through research comprising three areas: (a) refinements to the assessment of problem behavior, (b) parent and teacher training in behavioral interventions, and (c) implementation of evidence-based practice across settings. Current research projects focus on developing novel indirect and direct assessment measures to identify tasks that evoke problem behavior, evaluating alternative instructional methods that do not rely on physical guidance, and examining how to most effectively increase the amount of time children can appropriately wait to access functional reinforcers (e.g., attention, tangible items).

My approach to research is behavior analytic in nature and combines my unique training in psychology and applied behavior analysis. Students in my lab receive intensive training in personal protective procedures to safely manage challenging behavior and work in the Severe Behavior Disorders Clinic as part of the Center for Applied Behavior Analysis. If you would like more information about my research or if you are interested in getting involved with any related projects, please contact me at simmonsc@rowan.edu or visit my office in Robinson 117S.