Document Type

Dissertation

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

PhD in Behavior Analysis

Dissertation Defense Date

2021

First Committee Member

Karsten, Amanda M.

Second Committee Member

Dickson, Chata A.

Third Committee Member

Sassi, Jessica L.

Additional Committee Member(s)

Thompson, Rachel H.

Abstract

"Child mediated-consequences are likely to influence how often caregivers implement a prescribed intervention with students with disabilities, but prior studies fall short of demonstrating such a functional relation. Study 1 investigated correlations between child performance and caregiver adherence using data collected from preschool students with autism using the Autism Curriculum Encyclopedia© (ACE). Study 2 experimentally evaluated the effects of different schedules of confederates’ correct responses on caregiver presentation of three different tasks in a concurrent operant arrangement. Specifically, investigators compared frequency of task presentations across three confederate-mediated schedules of correct responses (0% correct, 100% correct, and lean-to-rich). Tasks associated with the lean-to-rich schedule of confederate correct responding were presented more frequently by all four participants. Study 3 extended Study 2 to naturalistic teaching conditions. Investigators compared levels of caregiver target task presentations during a 30 min teaching session under two conditions. In the first condition, learners made a high level of correct responses based on their history acquiring similar construction tasks with similar materials (i.e., large blocks). In the second condition, learners were less likely to respond correctly based on the materials (i.e., small blocks that were more challenging for participants to manipulate). Results indicated caregiver task presentations were higher given a rich schedule of correct responses relative to a lean schedule. Results are discussed in terms of future research on variables that influence caregiver adherence and, in turn, impact client outcomes."

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