title: Effects of Stability Balls on Children's On-Task Behavior, Academic Achievement, and Discipline Referrals: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We used a randomized controlled design to investigate whether using stability balls during the school day was associated with higher levels of on-task behavior and academic achievement and fewer discipline referrals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over 9 mo, students in 2 second-grade classrooms in a southeastern rural elementary school used stability balls as chairs while students in 2 control classrooms used chairs as usual. We collected measures of on-task behavior, standardized measures of literacy and mathematics achievement, and discipline referrals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found similar levels of on-task behavior and achievement in treatment and control classrooms and a downward trend in disruptive behaviors in treatment classrooms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study did not find use of stability balls for entire general education classrooms to be a practical use of resources for schools. More research with rigorous controlled designs is needed to support the use of stability balls for the general education population.
authors.affiliation: Alicia Fedewa, PhD, NCSP, is Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington; alicia.fedewa@uky.edu.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fedewa
authors.affiliation: Matthew A. C. Davis, MA, is Doctoral Student, University of Kentucky, Department of Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology, University of Kentucky, Lexington.
authors.forename: Matthew A C
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Soyeon Ahn, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Educational and Psychological Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.
authors.forename: Soyeon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011187:Posture; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D019876:Sports Equipment; D013334:Students; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis