Regular and Special Education Teachers' Estimates of Use of Aversive Contingencies

Abstract
This study identifies regular and special education teachers' estimates of use of aversive contingencies to decrease inappropriate social and academic behaviors. Regular and special educators (216) completed a 29-item questionnaire that asked them to estimate how frequently they employed a specific aversive contingency in their classroom. The results of this study indicate that teachers most frequently use relatively mild aversive contingencies. Differences between regular and special educators are identified. Implications of these findings are discussed.