Date of Award

5-2021

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Jonathan Baker

Second Advisor

Dr. Jessica Van Stratton

Third Advisor

Dr. Stephanie Peterson

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Linda LeBlanc

Keywords

Behavior analysis, behavioral gerontology, aging, caregiver training, OBM, multiple stimulus without replacement

Abstract

The field of behavioral gerontology has seen a paucity in literature within the past 15 years focused on updating training technology and teaching best practice skills to staff. Specifically, there is a need to expand the breadth of training research focus areas could more broadly the elderly population (e.g., increasing engagement), to ensure that trainings are designed to equip caregivers with the skills to be independent, and finally, given the frequent staffing challenges experienced by aging settings (Harrington et al., 2020), to explore effective and efficient training techniques that are alternatives to lengthy, in-person training modalities. Given the personnel challenges, which have been exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Denny-Brown et al., 2020), the present study sought to begin to expand research by first evaluating trainings with college students via telehealth. The study evaluated a telehealth training which consisted of instructions, a video training, self-monitoring, and feedback provided in an additive design to identify the most effective and efficient training components to train participants to conduct the Stimulus Identification Questionnaire (SIQ) and a Multiple Stimulus Without Replacement (MSWO) preference assessment. Overall, results showed that five out of the six participants achieved 100% mastery of the SIQ, and four out of the five students achieved 100% mastery of the MSWO. These results could be used to inform an effective and efficient way to train caregivers to conduct the SIQ and MSWO in aging settings.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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