Professor, Applied Behavioral Science
4052 Dole Human Development Center
Department Phone: 785.864.4840
Fax: 785.864.5202
E-mail: jsherman@ku.edu
B.A. Pomona College, 1960
M.A. University of Washington, 1962
Ph.D. University of Washington, 1964
Undergraduate Specialty Area(s)
Undergraduate and Graduate Courses
Research Interests
I am interested in developing and evaluating programs that help people with developmental disabilities achieve independent and satisfactory lives in the community. I am also interested in interventions to help families with adolescents who are having problems. There are three community programs with which my colleagues and I work.
First, we work with a program that provides homes in the community for adults with developmental disabilities. Part of our research focuses on developing and evaluating procedures to teach self-help, social, and independent living skills. Another part of our research focuses on staff training, maximizing community integration and quality of life for people with developmental disabilities, and building positive relationships between teachers and the people they serve.
A second program provides school and in-home teaching and consultation for families with children with autism. Our research here is in the areas of language teaching, development of appropriate social behavior, reducing challenging behaviors, and developing the skills of parents to be teachers of their own children.
Third, we conduct research as part of an in-home family therapy program for families with adolescents who are having problems. Our research here concerns the development and evaluation of procedures to teach more positive social behaviors, to manage or control anger, to schedule family activities and interactions, and to maximize effective communication and appropriate decision making with the family.
Representative Publications
Anderson, M. D., Sherman, J. A., Sheldon, J. B., & McAdam, D. (1997). Picture activity schedules and engagement of adults with mental retardation in a group home. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 18,. 231-250.
Gershater-Moke, R. M., Lutzker, J. R., & Sherman, J.A. (in press). Assessing child neglect. Aggression and Violent Behavior.
Gershater-Moko, R. M., Lutzker, J. R., and Sherman, J. A. (2002). Intervention in child neglect: an applied behavioral perspective. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 7, 103-124.
Harchik, A. E., Sherman, J. A., Sheldon, J. B., & Bannerman, D. J. (1993). Choice and control: New opportunities for people with disabilities. Annals of Clinical Psychiatry, 5, 151-163.
Harchik, A. E., Sherman, J. A., Sheldon, J. B., & 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.
Hazel, J. S., Sherman, J. A., Schumaker, J. B., & Sheldon, J. (1985). Group social skill training with adolescents: A critical review. In D. Upper and S. M. Ross (Eds.), Handbook of Behavioral Group Therapy (pp. 203-246). New York: Plenum Press.
Klatt, K. P., Sherman, J. A. & Sheldon, J. A. (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., Sherman, J. A., & Sheldon, J. B. (2003). In search of the origins of positive behavioral supports: evolution of revolution? In T. Stokes and K. Budd (Eds.), A Small Matter of Proof: The Legacy of Donald M. Baer. Las Vegas, NV: Context Press.
Klatt, K. P., Juraceck, D.B., Norman, K.R., McAdam, D. B., Sherman, J. A. & Sheldon, J. B. (2002). Evaluating preferred activities and challenging behavior through person-centered planning. In S. Holburn & P. Vietze (Eds.), Person Centered Planning: Research and Practice (pp. 315-332). Baltimore: Paul H. Brookes.
McAdam, D. B., Sherman, J. A., Sheldon, J. B. & Napolitano, D. A. (in press). Behavioral interventions to reduce pica of persons with developmental disabilities. Behavior Modification.
Quinn, J. M., Sherman, J. A., Sheldon, J. B., Quinn, L. M., & Harchik, A. E. (1992). Social validation of component behaviors of following instructions, accepting criticism, and negotiating. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 401-413.
Reese, R. M., Sherman, J. A., & 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.
Serna, L., Schumaker, J. B., Sherman, J. A., & 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., Sherman, J.A., Sheldon, J.B. (1996). Empirically based behavioral treatment programs for families with adolescents who are at risk for failure. In C. R. Hollin and K. Howells (Eds.), Clinical Approaches to Working with Young Offenders (pp. 165-180). New York: Wiley.
Sherman, J. A., & Sheldon, J. B. (1991). Values for community research and action: Do we agree where they lead us? Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 653-655.
Sherman, J. A., Sheldon, J. B., Harchik, A. E., Edwards, K., & Quinn, J. M. (1992). Social evaluation of behaviors comprising three social skills and a comparison of the performance of people with and without mental retardation. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 96, 419-431.
Strouse, M. C., Carroll-Hernandez, T. A., Sherman, J. A. & Sheldon, J. B. (2003). 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, 23, 45-63.
