T. Chris Riley-Tillman

Ph.D. from Syracuse University, 1999

M.A. from Syracruse University, 1996

Recent Books

Burns, M. K., Riley-Tillman, T.C. & VanDerHeyden, A. (In Press). Response To Intervention Applications Volume 1: Academic and Behavioral Interventions. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. & Burns, M. K. (2009). Evaluating Educational Interventions: Single-Case Design for Measuring Response to Intervention.  New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Chafouleas, S.M, Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Sugai, G. (2007). School-Based Behavior Assessment and Monitoring for Informing Instruction and Intervention. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Recent Publications in Refereed Journals

Christ, T.J., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Chafouleas, S.M. (accepted with revision).  Direct Behavior Rating (DBR): An Evaluation of Alternative Definitions to Assess Classroom Behaviors. School Psychology Review.

Briesch, A.M., Chafouleas, S.M., & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (in press).  Generalizability and dependability of behavioral assessment methods: A comparison of systematic direct observation and Direct Behavior Rating. School Psychology Review.

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Christ, T.J., Chafouleas, S.M., Boice, C. H., & Briesch, A.M. (2010). The impact of observation duration on the generalizability and dependability of Direct Behavior Ratings.  Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions. doi:10.1177/1098300710361954

Chafouleas, S.M., Briesch, A.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., Christ, T.J., & Kilgus, S.G. (2010).  An Investigation of the Generalizability and Dependability of Direct Behavior Ratings (DBRs) to Measure Engagement and Disruptive Behavior of Middle School Students.  Journal of School Psychology, 48, 219-246. doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2010.02.001

Christ, T. J., Riley-Tillman, T. C., Chafouleas, S. M., & Boice, C. H. (2010). Generalizability and dependability of Direct Behavior Ratings (DBR) across raters and observations. Educational and Psychological Measurement. doi:10.1177/0013164410366695

*Schlientz, M. D., Riley-Tillman, T. C., Briesch, A. M., Walcott, C. M., Chafouleas, S.M., (2009). The Impact of Training on the Accuracy of Direct Behavior Ratings (DBRs). School Psychology Quarterly, 24, 73-83. doi:10.1037/a0016255

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Methe, S.A., & Weegar, K. (2009). Examining the Use of Direct Behavior Rating Methodology on Classwide Formative Assessment: A Case Study. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 34, 224-230. doi:10.1177/1534508409333879

Christ, T.J., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Chafouleas, S.M. (2009). Foundation for the Development and Use of Direct Behavior Rating (DBR) to Assess and Evaluate Student Behavior. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 34, 201-213. doi:10.1177/1534508409340390

Chafouleas, S.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Christ, T.J. (2009). Direct Behavior Rating (DBR): An Emerging Method for Assessing Social Behavior within a Tiered Intervention System. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 34, 195-200. doi:10.1177/1534508409340391

Riley-Tillman, T. C., Chafouleas, S. M., Christ, T., Briesch, A. M., & LeBel, T.J. (2009). The impact of wording and inference on the accuracy of direct behavior rating scales (DBR). School Psychology Quarterly, 24, 1-12. doi:10.1037/a0015248

Chafouleas, S. M., Briesch, A. M., Riley-Tillman, T. C., & McCoach, D. B. (2009). Moving beyond assessment of treatment acceptability: An examination of the factor structure of the Usage Rating Profile – Intervention (URP-I). School Psychology Quarterly, 24, 36-47. doi:10.1037/a0015146

Chafouleas, S.M., Christ, T.J., & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2009).  Generalizability and dependability of scaling gradients on Direct Behavior Ratings (DBRs).  Educational and Psychological Measurement, 69, 157-173. doi:10.1177/0013164408322005 

Chafouleas, S. M., Riley-Tillman, T. C., Briesch, A. M., & Chanese, J. A. (2008). The Development and Validation of the Usage Rating Profile (URP).  Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 23, 175-189. doi:10.1177/0829573508323989

*Kelleher, C., Riley-Tillman, T.C, & Power, T.J. (2008). An Initial Comparison of Collaborative and Expert-Driven Consultation on Treatment Integrity.  Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 18, 294-324. doi:10.1080/10474410802491040

Methe, S.A. & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2008). An Informed Approach to Selecting and Designing Early Mathematics Interventions.  School Psychology Forum, 2(3), 29-41. 

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Chafouleas, S.M., & Eckert, T. (2008). Daily Behavior Report Cards and Systematic Direct Observation: An Investigation of the Acceptability, Reported Training and Use, and Decision Reliability among School Psychologists. Journal of Behavioral Education. 17, 313-327. doi:10.1007/s10864-008-9070-5

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Chafouleas, S.M., Sassu, K.A., Chanese, J.A.M., & Glazer, A.D. (2008). Examining the agreement of Direct Behavior Ratings and Systematic Direct Observation for on-task and disruptive behavior. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 10, 136-143. doi:10.1177/1098300707312542

*Damon, S., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Fiorello, C. (2008). Comparing methods of identifying reinforcing stimuli in school consultation.  Journal of Educational and Psychological Consultation, 18, 31-53. doi:10.1080/10474410701864123

Walcott, C.M., Chafouleas, S.M., McDougal, J.L., Miller, D.N., Riley-Tillman, T.C., Blom-Hoffman, J., & Volpe, R.J. (2008).  School-Based Health Promotion: An Introduction to the Practitioner’s Edition.  Psychology in the Schools, 45, 5-15. doi:10.1002/pits.20273

Riley-Tillman, T.C. & Wallcott, C.M. (2007). Using Baseline Logic to Maximize the Value of Educational Intervention. School Psychology Forum, 1(2), 87-97.

Chafouleas, S.M., Christ, T., Riley-Tillman, T.C., Briesch, A.M., & Chanese, J. (2007). Generalizability and dependability of Direct Behavior Ratings to measure social behavior of preschoolers. School Psychology Review, 36, 63-79.

Miller, D.N., Blom-Hoffman, J., Chafouleas, S.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Volpe, R.J., (2007). Navigating a Successful Academic Career in Psychology: Tips and Recommendations for Graduate Students. Graduate Student Journal of Psychology, 9, 49-55.

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Chafouleas, S.M., & Briesch, A.M. (2007). A school practitioner’s guide to using Daily Behavior Report Cards to monitor interventions. Psychology in the Schools, 44, 77-89. doi:10.1002/pits.20207

Chafouleas, S.M., & Riley-Tillman, T.C., Sassu, K.A., LaFrance, M.J., & Patwa, S.S. (2007). Daily Behavior Report Cards: An Investigation of the consistency of On-Task Data Across Raters and Methods. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions. 9, 30-37. doi:10.1177/10983007070090010401

McDougal, J.L., Miller, D.N., Chafouleas, S.M., Blom-Hoffman, J., & Volpe, R.J., Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2007). Promoting Behavioral Competence: An introduction to the practitioner’s edition. Psychology in the Schools 44, 1-5. doi:10.1002/pits.20200   

Christner, R. & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2006). Introduction to School Psychology Forum: Research in Practice. School Psychology Forum, 1, 1-3.

Chafouleas, S.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Sassu, K.A. (2006). Acceptability and reported use of Daily Behavior Report Cards among teachers. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 8, 174-182. doi:10.1177/10983007060080030601

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Chafouleas, S.M., Blom-Hoffman, J., Volpe, R.J., McDougal, J.L., Miller, D.N. (2006). The value of applicability: Introducing the practitioner’s edition on promoting academic success. Psychology in the Schools, 43, 1-5. doi:10.1002/pits.20124

*Cautilli, J., Riley-Tillman, T.C., Axelrod, S., Dziewolska, H., Hineline, P. (2006). Brief report: An experimental analogue of the effects of consultee “resistance” on the consultant’s therapeutic behavior – a preliminary investigation. The Behavior Analyst Today, 7, 351-356

Eckert, T., Miller, D.N., Riley-Tillman, T.C, DuPaul, G.J., & Dunn, E.L. (2006). Adolescent suicide prevention: Gender differences in students’ perceptions of the acceptability and intrusiveness of school-based screening programs. Journal of School Psychology. 44, 271-285. doi:10.1016/j.jsp.2006.05.001

*Cautilli, J., Riley-Tillman, T.C., Axelrod, S., Hineline, P. (2006). Resistance Is Not Futile: An experimental analogue of the effects of consultee “resistance” on the consultant’s therapeutic behavior in the consultation process. The International Journal of Behavioral Consultation and Therapy, 2(3), 362-374.

Recent Other Publications

Walcott, C. M. & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2007). Evidence-Based Interventions from Research to Practice. Communiqué 35(6), 16-20.

Recent Book Chapters

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Walcott, C.M., Briesch, A.M., & Chafouleas, S.M. (in press). Behavior Assessment and Monitoring Using Naturally Occurring Data.  In Helping Children at Home and School: Handouts From Your School Psychologist (Third Edition). Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.

Chafouleas, S. M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Christ, T. J. (in press). Direct Behavior Ratings (DBRs): Useful Tools for Linking Assessment, Communication, and Intervention. In Helping Children at Home and School: Handouts From Your School Psychologist (Third Edition). Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.

Walcott, C. M. & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2007). Interobserver Agreement. In Fletcher-Janzen, E. & Reynolds, C.R., Encyclopedia of Special Education, 3rd Edition. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons.

Recent Refereed Presentations at Professional Meetings

Jaffery, R., Johnson, A.H., Bowler, M.C., Chafouleas, S.M., & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2011, Aug). Options in agreement indices for establishing expert consensus on behavioral ratings within school and industrial/organizational psychology. Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Washington, DC. 

Johnson, A.H., Brooks, S.R., & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2011, Aug). Utility of the Direct Behavior Rating--Behavior Assessment School Information System. Poster presentation at the American Psychological Association Annual Convention, Washington, DC.

Iovannone, R., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Lynass, L. (2011, Mar). Direct Behavior Rating (DBR): Progress monitoring within a multi-tiered behavioral support model. Paper presented at the 8th International Conference on Positive Behavior Supports, Denver, CO.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. & Burns, M.K. (2011, Feb). Evaluating Educational Interventions. Single Case Design to Measure Response to Intervention. Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Chafouleas, S.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Kilgus, S.P. (2011, Feb). Direct Behavior Rating in behavior assessment within a problem-solving model. Paper presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.

Kilgus, S.P., Brooks, S.R., Chafouleas, S.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., Christ, T.J. (2011, Feb). Diagnostic accuracy of Direct Behavior Rating single item scales. Poster presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.

Johnson, A., Jaffery, R., Harrison, S.E., Music, A., Chafouleas, S.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Christ, T.J. (2011, Feb). Building consensus to establish expert ratings on Direct Behavior Rating. Poster presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.

Jaffery, R., Sen, R., Music, A., Chafouleas, S.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Christ, T.J. (2011, Feb). Direct Behavior Rating: Impact of behavioral wording on data accuracy. Poster presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.

Harrison, S.E., Jaffery, R., Johnson, A., Chafouleas, S.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Christ, T.J. (2011, Feb). Evaluating the effectiveness of a Direct Behavior Rating training module. Poster presentation at the National Association of SchoolPsychologists Annual Convention, San Francisco, CA.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. & Burns, M.K. (2010, March). Evaluating Educational Interventions. Single Case Design to Measure Response to Intervention. Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Christ, T.J, Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Chafouleas, S. M. (2010, March). Direct Behavior Rating: An Emerging Method to Assess Classroom Behavior. Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Harrison, S., Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Chafouleas, S.M. T.C. (2010, March). Direct Behavior Ratings: Training Strategies to Improve Accuracy. Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Chafouleas, S.M., Briesch, A., & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2010, March). Behavior Assessment in RTI: Considerations When Selecting Tools. Presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Briesch, A., Chafouleas, S. M., & Riley-Tillman, T. C. (2010, March). Comparing the Psychometric Properties of Behavioral Assessment Methods: SDO/DBR. Poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Kilgus, S. P., Saripalle, R. K., & Riley-Tillman, T. C. (2010, March). DBR-BASIS: A Web-Based System for Direct Behavior Rating Data. Poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Jaffery, R., Ongsuco, A, Briesch, A., Christ, T.J., Chafouleas, S.M., & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2010, March). Direct Behavior Rating: Evaluating Behaviors With Positive and Negative Definitions. Poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Amon, J., Brooks, S., Kilgus, S., Chafouleas, S.M., & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2010, March). Direct Behavior Rating: Impact of Varying Training Components on Accuracy. Poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Chicago, IL.

Chafouleas, S.M., Briesch, A.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., Christ, T.J., Volpe, R.J., & Gresham, F. (2009). Review of methods for formative assessment of child social behavior. Symposium presented at the meeting of the American Psychological Association, Toronto, Canada.

Chafouleas, S. M. & Riley-Tillman, T. C. (2009). School-Based behavior Assessment: Considerations When Selecting Tools in RTI. Refereed paper presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Boston MA.

Christ, T. J., Riley-Tillman, T. C., & Chafouleas, S. M. (2009). An emerging alternative for RTI: Direct Behavior Rating. Refereed paper presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Boston MA.

Ongsuco, A., Music, A., Briesch, A. M., Kilgus, S. P., Chafouleas, S. M., Riley-Tillman, T. C., & Christ, T. J. (2009). Investigating the Influence of Scale Characteristics on Direct Behavior Rating Data. Refereed poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Boston MA.

LeBel, T. J., A., Briesch, A. M., Kilgus, S. P., Riley-Tillman, T. C., Chafouleas, S. M., & Christ, T. J. (2009). Behavioral Specificity and Wording Impact on Direct Behavior Rating Accuracy. Refereed poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Boston MA.

Music, A., Riley-Tillman, T. C., Chafouleas, S. M., & Christ, T. J. (2009). Project VIABLE: Teacher Preference Assessment of Direct Behavior Ratings. Refereed poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, Boston MA.

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Chafouleas, S.M., & Christ, T.J. (2008). The development and technical adequacy of direct behavior ratings. Refereed paper presented at the annual conference for the National Association of School Psychologists, New Orleans, LA.

Schlientz, M.D., & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2008). Effects of training on the accuracy of Direct Behavior Ratings. Refereed poster presented at the annual conference for the National Association of School Psychologists, New Orleans, LA.

Briesch, A.M., Kilgus, S.P., Chafouleas, S.M., & Riley-Tillman, T.C. (2008). Continued validation of the Usage Ratins Profile for Interventions (URP-I). Refereed poster presented at the annual conference for the National Association of School Psychologists, New Orleans, LA.

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Chafouleas, S.M., Christ, T.J., LeBel, T., Ivey, A., & Briesch, A. (2007). Project VIABLE: The decision reliability of Direct Behavior Ratings. Refereed poster presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, New York, New York.

Chafouleas, S.M., Christ, T.J., Riley-Tillman, T.C., Briesch, A.M., & Chanese, J. (2007). Generalizability and dependability of Direct Behavior Ratings (DBRs) to assess social behavior of preschoolers. Refereed poster presentation at the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention, New York, New York.

Riley-Tillman, T.C., Chafouleas, S.M., Milson, J., & Chanese, J.A. (2006). The Acceptability and Decision Reliability of Daily Behavior Report Cards. Refereed paper presented at the National Association of School Psychologist Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA.

Chafouleas, S.M., Riley-Tillman, T.C., Briesch, A.M., & Chanese, J.A. (2006). Understanding Usable Knowledge: Development and Validation of the Usage Rating Profile-Intervention. Refereed poster presented at the National Association of School Psychologist Annual Conference, Anaheim, CA.

Recent Invited Presentations

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (February, 11, 2011).  Evaluating Educational Interventions: Single Case Design for Measuring Response to Intervention. Invited workshop for the Black Hawk Area Special Education District, Moline, IL.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (January, 20, 2011).  Evidence-Based Interventions for Behavior Problems in Schools: Selection, Implementation, and Analysis. Invited workshop at Eastern Area Health Education Center, Greenville, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (November 10, 2010). Behavior Assessment for Intervention Purposes. Invited workshop presented at the Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (August 20, 2009). Evidence-based Interventions for Behavior Problems in the Schools: Selection, Implementation, and Analysis. Educational workshop presented at the North Carolina School Psychology Association Annual Conference, Atlantic Beach, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T. C. (March 27th, 2009). Selecting and Evaluation School-Based Social Behavior Interventions. Invited workshop for the North Carolina School Psychology Association, Ashville, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T. C. (November 17, 2008). Evidence Based Interventions for Social Behavior Problems. Invited presentation at the North Carolina Exception Children Conference, Greensboro, NC.
   
Riley-Tillman, T. C. (February 25, 2008). Response to Intervention. Invited presentation at Eastern Area Health Education Center, Greenville, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C., & Walcott, C.M. (October 15, 2007). Defensible Behaviorally-Emotionally Disabled (BED) Assessment and Intervention. Educational workshop presented at the North Carolina School Psychology Association Annual Conference, Wilmington, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (March, 21, 2007). Response to Intervention Workshop.  Educational workshop presented at Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (August, 17, 2007). Selecting and Evaluating School-Based Social Behavior Interventions. Educational workshop presented at the Annual Children Services State of the Art Conference, Atlantic Beach, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (March, 4, 2007). Selecting, Measuring and Evaluating School-Based Interventions.  Educational workshop presented at Guilford County Schools, Greensboro, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (August, 18, 2006). Evaluating School-Based Interventions.  Educational workshop presented at the Annual Children Services State of the Art Conference, Atlantic Beach, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (March 22, 2006). Daily Behavior Report Cards. Educational workshop presented at the Pitt County School District, Greenville, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (March 20, 2006). Partnership-Based Consultation; Intervention Design and its Impact on Treatment Integrity. Research symposium presented at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.

Riley-Tillman, T.C. (Feburary 27, 2006). Daily Behavior Report Cards. Educational workshop presented at the Green County School District, Snow Hill, NC.

Recent Funded Research Grants

Co-Principal Investigator.  Project VIABLE-II: Continued Validation of Direct Behavior Rating (DBR) as a behavior assessment method with utility in a problem-solving model. Funding Source: US Department of Education, Institute for Education Sciences.  Duration of Requested Funding: 6/1/10-5/31/114. Total amount funded 2,230,000.

Co-Principal Investigator. Project VIABLE Supplement. Funding Source: Institute of Education Sciences of the United States Department of Education. Duration of funding June 1st 2008 to May 31st 2010. Total amount funded:  $165,000.

Co-Principal Investigator. Project VIABLE: Validation of Instruments for Assessing Behavior Longitudinally and Efficiently. Funding Source: Institute of Education Sciences of the United States Department of Education. Duration of funding June 1st 2006 to May 31st 2010. Total amount funded:  $1,496,000.

Principal Investigator. Project Tracking: Enhancing IEP Goal Development and Progress Monitoring through Professional Development. Funding Source: East Carolina University College of Arts and Sciences. Duration of funding: June 1st 2006 to July 15th 2006. Total amount funded:  $14,375.

Recent Awards

Invited Member, Society for the Study of School Psychology (2011)

Recipient of the 2010-2011 East Carolina University Five-Year Achievement for Excellence in Research/Creative Activity Award.

Department of Psychology 2010 Faculty Appreciation Award for Teaching, Research and Mentoring

Harriot College of Arts and Sciences College Research Award in 2006