PORTL as a Teaching Tool for Applied Skills in Adult Learners

Date of Award

6-2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Stephanie Peterson, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Alan Poling, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Traci Cihon, Ph.D.

Fourth Advisor

Jennifer McComas, Ph.D.

Abstract

Behavior technicians often provide one-to-one applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to individuals with autism spectrum disorders as outlined in a treatment plan overseen by a behavior analyst and funded through an insurance provider or state Medicaid program. Training requirements for behavior technicians vary based on state and/or funder. Some commercial insurance companies require credentialed Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) to provide direct therapy. Others leave the choice of training requirements up to the organization providing services. Often, such training is conducted asynchronously online, as it is more feasible when onboarding new staff on a rolling basis. Asynchronous training is less likely than in-person or in-vivo training to produce mastery of material and usually requires follow up to facilitate generalization of learned skills (Gerencser et al., 2020). The Portable Operant and Research Teaching Lab (PORTL; Hunter & Rosales-Ruiz, 2023; Rosales-Ruiz & Hunter, 2016) is an emerging method to teach behavior principles. This instruction may also allow individuals to learn how to engage in behavior change procedures like differential reinforcement and shaping. While several human operant studies have been conducted with PORTL, only two studies have investigated the use of PORTL to train new skills. The present study sought to extend the literature on the use of PORTL as a training tool for behavior technicians. Adult learners served as participants and were evaluated on their accuracy in using differential reinforcement and shaping with confederate adults and confederate children, before, during, and after working through PORTL exercises on each topic. Participant accuracy in implementing DR and shaping improved following PORTL. All participants successfully taught the target DR skill to adult learners and child learners following PORTL training but were only able to teach the target shaping skill to adult learners.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Abstract Only

Restricted to Campus until

6-1-2028

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