Document Type

Dissertation

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

PhD in Behavior Analysis

Dissertation Defense Date

2018

First Committee Member

Hanley, Gregory

Second Committee Member

MacDonald, Rebecca

Third Committee Member

Smith, Tristram

Abstract

"The authors developed a training manual designed to teach parents to use incidental teaching (IT) with their young children. We used a group-comparison design with an embedded concurrent multiple-baseline design between pairs of caregivers to examine the feasibility and efficacy of the manualized IT training. In Phase 1, professionals in related fields completed a survey regarding the manual’s content. All professionals responded favorably to the manual (91% satisfaction), and feedback from the survey was incorporated into the final training materials. In Phase 2, the trainers led four groups of parents through a 2.5-3 hour training. Trainers (two certified speech and language pathologists {SLPs}) were rated on utilization of specified IT procedures and level of skill and clinical judgment demonstrated in implementing each procedure (e.g., role plays, written exercises). Parents were assessed on fidelity of responses to role plays and exercises during the training. The trainers administered 3 out of 4 trainings with high competence and adherence, and all parents demonstrated fidelity with procedures targeted by the manual. In Phase 3, we evaluated caregiver implementation of IT procedures prior to and following manualized training, and we measured child mand acquisition prior to and following parent-implemented IT. By the final post-training assessment, all parents implemented IT procedures with high accuracy, 4 out of 8 children emitted more complex mands and 6 out of 8 children increased their use the of prescribed mand. This study completed a necessary step toward future efficacy testing and widespread dissemination of parent-implemented IT."

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