Professor, Applied Behavioral Science
4013 Dole Human Development Center
Department Phone: 785.864.4840
Fax: 785.864.5202
E-mail: jsheldon@ku.edu
B.A. University of Kansas (Human Development and Psychology), 1970
M.A. University of Kansas (Human Development and Family Life), 1974
Ph.D. University of Kansas (Developmental and Child Psychology), 1974
J.D. University of Kansas, 1977
Undergraduate Specialty Area(s)
Undergraduate and Graduate Courses
Research Interests
Research interests currently center around four main ideas. First, my colleagues and I are working on the development and evaluation of community-based programs serving children and adults with developmental disabilities. There are several areas of research that are ongoing including the development and evaluation of various staffing models, programs to promote community integration and improve quality of life for people with developmental disabilities, programs to improve the health of people with disabilities, and methods to build positive relationships between staff and the people they serve.
Secondly, I work in the area of early intervention with children with autism. Our program addresses both school and in-home teaching and consultation for families with children with autism. Research areas include language teaching, development of appropriate social behaviors, reducing challenging behaviors, and developing the skills of parents to be teachers of their own children.
Thirdly, my colleagues and I work in the area of problem adolescents and their families. We work with the juvenile court, the school system, and social service agencies in attempting to solve truancy problems for children and teenagers. One of our programs in this area centers around training undergraduates to work with youths by utilizing counseling techniques and behavioral contracts. Additionally, we have an intensive in-home family therapy program where we work with families with problem adolescents. Here we have used social skill training, anger control training, behavioral contracting, family conference procedures as well as other procedures to improve family relations.
Finally, I am interested in legal research on the rights of the developmentally disabled, in the area of juvenile law, and divorce and child custody mediation. Of special interest is the legal liability of teaching parents/counselors in residential programs serving people with disabilities. In addition, I am interested in the psychological education of attorneys who participate in the juvenile justice process, in mediation, and in the legal education of psychologists, group home, and direct care personnel.
Representative Publications
Bannerman, D.J., Sheldon, J.B., Sherman, J.A., & Harchik, A.E. (1990). Balancing the right to habilitation with the right to personal liberties: The rights of people with developmental disabilities to eat too many doughnuts and take a nap. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 79-89.
Sherman, J.A., and Sheldon, J.B. (1991). Values for community research and action: Do we agree where they guide us? Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 653-655.
Serna, L., Schumaker, JB., Sherman, J.A., and Sheldon, J.B. (1991). In-home generalization of social interactions in families of adolescents with behavior problems. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 733-746.
Serna, L.A., Schumaker, J.B., and Sheldon, J.B. (1992). A comparison of the
effects of
feedback procedures on college student performance on written essay papers.
Behavior Modification, 16, 64-81.
Sherman, J.A., Sheldon, J.B., Harchik, A.E., Edwards, K., and Quinn, J. (1992). Social evaluation of behaviors comprising three social skills and a comparison of the performance of people with and without mental retardation. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 96, 419-431.
Harchik, A.E., Sherman, J.A., and Sheldon, J.B. (1992). The use of self-management procedures by people with developmental disabilities: A brief review. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 13, 211-227.
Quinn, J.M., Sherman, J.A., Sheldon, J.B., Quinn, L.M., and Harchik, A.E. (1992). Social validation of component behaviors of following instructions, accepting criticism, and negotiating. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,25, 401-413.
Harchik, A.E., Sherman, J.A., Sheldon, J.B., and Strouse, M.C. (1992). Ongoing consultation as a method of improving performance of staff members in a group home. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 599-610.
Harchik, A.E., Sherman, J.A., Sheldon, J.B., and Bannerman, D.J. (1993). Choice and control: New opportunities for people with disabilities. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 5, 151-163.
Anderson, M.D., Sherman, J.A., Sheldon, J.B., and McAdam, D. (1997). Picture activity schedule and engagement of adults with mental retardation in a group home. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 18, 231-250.
Reese, R.M., Sherman, J.A., and Sheldon, J.B. (1998). Reducing disruptive behavior of a group-home resident with autism and mental retardation. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 28, 159-165.
Napolitano, D.A., Jack, S.L., Sheldon, J.B., Williams, D.C., McAdam, D.B., and Schroeder, S.R., (1999). Drug-behavior interactions in persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 5, 322-334.
Klatt, K.P., Sherman, J.A., Sheldon, J.B. (2000). Effects of deprivation on engagement in preferred activities by persons with developmental disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33, 495-506.
Klatt, K.P., Juraceck, D.B., Norman, K.R., McAdam, D.B., Sherman, J.A., and Sheldon, J.B. (2002). Evaluating Preferred Activities and Challenging Behavior Through Person-Centered Planning. In S. Holburn & P. Vietze (Eds.) Person Centered Planning: Research, Practice, and Future Directories. Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes Publishing, Co.
Klatt, K.P., Sherman, J.A., and Sheldon, J.B. (2003). In search of the origins
of
positive behavior supports: Evolution or revolution? In K. Budd and T. Stokes
(Eds.) A small matter of proof: The legacy of Donald M. Baer. Reno, NV: Context
Press.
McAdam, D.B., Sherman, J.A., Sheldon, J. B., Napolitano, D.A. (2003). Behavioral
interventions to reduce the pica of persons with developmental disabilities.
Behavior Modification, 28, 45-72.
Strouse, M.C., Carroll-Hernandez, T.A., Sherman, J.A., and Sheldon, J.B. (in
press).
Turning over turnover: The evaluation of a staff scheduling system in a community-based
program for adults with developmental disabilities. Journal of Organizational
Behavior Management.
