Department of Special Education

Dr. Falcomata's research emphasis is in the area of applied behavior analysis and the application of ABA technologies in the home and school. His research focuses primarily on the assessment and treatment of severe destructive behavior displayed by individuals with developmental disabilities and autism. Specifically, this research has focused on the use functional analysis methods and functional communication training in the assessment and treatment of destructive behaviors. Specific areas of interest currently include generalization of effective treatments, the emergence of vocal communication during communication training, and variables affecting the resurgence of destructive behavior following treatment. Dr. Falcomata's other current research interests include factors influencing choice (e.g., self-control, impulsivity) including the role of dimensions of reinforcement; and the application of stimulus equivalence methods for teaching skills to children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Ph.D., University of Iowa, 2008, School Psychology

M.S., Southern Illinois University, 2001, Behavior Analysis and Therapy

B.S., Illinois State University, 1997, Middle School Education

Refereed Articles:

*Badgett, N. & Falcomata, T. S. (in press). A comparison of methodologies of brief functional analyses. Developmental Neurorehabilitation.

Falcomata, T. S., *Hoffman, K., *Gainey, S., *Muething, C. S., & Fienup, D. M. (in press). A preliminary evaluation of reinstatement of destructive behavior displayed by individuals with autism. The Psychological Record.

Falcomata, T. S., Wacker, D. P., Ringdahl, J. E., Vinquist, K., & Dutt, A. (in press). An evaluation of mand generalization and a stimulus control training procedure during functional communication training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Kang, S., O’Reilly, M., Lancioni, G., Falcomata, T. S., Sigafoos, J. Xu, Z. (2013). Comparison of the predictive validity and consistency among preference assessments: A review of the literature. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34, 1125-1133. 

Falcomata, T. S. & Wacker, D. P. (2013). On the use of strategies for programming generalization during functional communication training: A review of the literature. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 25, 5-15. doi: 10.1007/s10882-012-9311-3.

Falcomata, T. S. & Lang, R. (2013). Introduction to the special issue: Challenging behavior and individuals with developmental disabilities. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 25, 1-4. doi: 10.1007/s10882-012-9328-7.

Falcomata, T. S., *White, P., *Muething, C. S., & *Fragale, C. (2012). Functional communication training and a chained schedule of reinforcement procedure to treat challenging behavior with multiple functions. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 6, 529-538. doi: 10.1007/s10882-012-9287-z.

Falcomata, T. S., Roane, H. S., *Muething, C. S., Stephenson, K. M., Ing, A. D. (2012). Functional communication training and chained schedules of reinforcement to treat destructive behavior maintained by terminations of activity interruptions. Behavior Modification, 36, 630-649.  doi: 10.1177/0145445511433821.

*Higgins, W. J., Falcomata, T. S., Roane, H. S., & Stephenson, K. M. (2012). Effects of client position on automatically maintained self-injurious behavior exhibited by a child with Duane and Goldenhar Syndromes. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 24, 135-144.

Fienup, D. M., Hamelin, J., Reyes-Giordano, K., & Falcomata, T. S. (2011). College-level instruction: Derived relations and programmed instruction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 413-416.

*White, P., O'Reilly, M., *Fragale, C., Kang, S., *Muhich, K., Falcomata, T., Lang, R., Sigafoos, J., & Lancioni, G. (2011). An extended functional analysis protocol assesses the role of stereotypy in aggression in two young children with autism spectrum disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5, 784-789.

Falcomata, T. S., Cooper-Brown, L. J., Wacker, D. P., Gardner, A. W., & Boelter, E. W. (2010). A brief experimental analysis of reinforcer and response dimensions related to self-control in an outpatient clinic. Journal of Behavioral Education, 19, 257-272.

Falcomata, T. S., Ringdahl, J. E., Christensen, T. J., & Boelter, E. W. (2010). An evaluation of prompt schedules and mand preference during functional communication training. The Behavior Analyst Today, 11, 77-84.

Falcomata, T. S., Roane, H. S., Feeney, B. J., & Stephenson, K. (2010). Assessment and treatment of elopement maintained by access to stereotypy. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 513-518.

Ringdahl, J. E., Falcomata, T. S., Christensen, T. J., Bass-Ringdahl, S. M., Lentz, A., Dutt, A., & Schuh-Claus, J. (2009). Evaluation of a pre-treatment assessment to select mands for functional communication training. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 330-341.

Falcomata, T. S., Northup, J. A., Dutt, A, Stricker, J. M., Vinquist, K. M., & Engebretson, B. J. (2008). A Preliminary analysis of instructional control in the maintenance of appropriate behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 41, 429-434.

Falcomata, T. S., Roane, H. S., & Pabico, R. R. (2007). Unintentional stimulus control during the treatment of pica displayed by a young man with autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1, 350-359.

Book Chapters

O'Reilly, M., Little, A., Falcomata, T. S., *Fragale, T., Green, V., Sigafoos, J., Lancioni, G., Edrisinha, C., & Choi, H. (2011). Interactive social skills. In: Luiselli, J. K. (Ed.). Teaching and behavior support for children and adults with autism spectrum disorders: A "How to" practitioners guide. New York: Oxford University Press.

Ringdahl, J. E., Kopelman, T., & Falcomata, T. S. (2010). Theories and principles of applied behavior analysis. In Matson, J. L. Applied behavior analysis for children with autism spectrum disorders: A handbook. Oxford, England: Elsevier Science, Inc.

*Indicates student authorship.

• Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, Sidney W. and Janet R. Bijou Fellowship Recipient  (2004)

Williamson County Bluebonnet Trails Community Services Autism Program Agreement

• Associate Editor:

Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities

•  Board of Editors:

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Behavior Analysis in Practice

 

•  Guest Editor (Special Issue on Challenging Behavior):

Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities