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, "Using Performance Analysis to Increase Staff Compliance with Acquisition Programs for Children with Autism" (2001). Master's Theses. 4690.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/4690