USUUtah State University · Psychology
Behavior Support and Development Lab
Timothy A Shahan · Logan, Utah
Research Focus
Dr. Timothy A. Shahan's lab focuses on understanding and addressing severe problem behaviors in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The lab researches methods to reinforce positive behaviors and mitigate treatment relapse when caregivers are involved. By combining basic scientific principles with clinical applications, the lab aims to improve social integration and the quality of life for affected children and their families.
positive behavior reinforcementintellectual disabilitiesdevelopmental disordersbehavior therapytreatment relapse
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate the effectiveness of contingency discrimination training in reducing resurgence of problem behaviors in children with IDD.
AIM 02Conduct randomized controlled trials to assess treatment approaches and their efficacy.
AIM 03Develop a refined theoretical framework to explain behavior in changing reinforcement conditions.
Skills the Lab Values
behavioral analysisexperimental designdata interpretationrandomized controlled trialsdifferential reinforcement strategies
Output against the department
Publications140bottom 47% of dept.156th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations4.5kbottom 41% of dept.176th of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.