Teaching initiating joint attention using multiple exemplar training to toddlers diagnosed with autism

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2019

First Committee Member

MacDonald, Rebecca

Second Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel

Third Committee Member

Dickson, Chata

Abstract

"The purpose of this study was to teach initiating joint attention (IJA) skills to two toddlers with autism using a multiple exemplar training. Participants were trained to use gestures (point or show) and gaze shifts across three different activities. The three IJA activities were pointing to make a choice between two items, showing an item to an adult, and pointing to pictures in a book. Social reinforcement and least-to-most prompting with a constant 2 s delay and tracking were used to teach the skills. Training sessions were followed by probes within the same activity as well as probes across different activities. Subsequent training for all sets of toys were conducted until mastery criteria was met for all sets of toys across all activities. Results showed two children with autism learned IJA through multiple exemplar training. Generalization occurred within the activity but did not occur across activities."

This document is available upon request to Western New England University faculty, students, and staff. Please contact D'Amour Library at for access.

Share

COinS