Date of Award
12-2001
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Richard W. Malott
Second Advisor
Dr. Sebastien Bosch
Third Advisor
Dr. John Austin
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Improvement in the rate of learning on acquisition programs for individuals diagnosed with autism often depends on the quality of instruction delivered by direct-care staff The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a performance analysis on targeting environmental variables that were maintaining less than optimal staff performance for a least-to-most prompting procedure used to teach a hand-washing task to preschool children diagnosed with autism. Direct observations of technician/child dyads were followed by informant interviews with technicians, supervisors, and other key staff members that pinpointed variables that were maintaining/hindering staff compliance with a prompting procedure designed to promote child acquisition of a hand-washing task. An intervention package, consisting of antecedents that included a job-aid and additional training on the prompting procedure, resulted in substantial increases in staff performance on teaching the hand-washing task. Indices of child performance, including percentage of steps performed independently and on-task performance during the activity, showed modest improvements.
Recommended Citation
Traynor, Scott, "Using Performance Analysis to Increase Staff Compliance with Acquisition Programs for Children with Autism" (2001). Masters Theses. 4690.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4690