Teaching joint attention using multiple exemplar training

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2015

First Committee Member

MacDonald, Rebecca

Second Committee Member

Gould, Daniel

Third Committee Member

Hanley, Gregory

Abstract

"Joint attention involves the use of gestures, gaze shifts, and commenting in order to coordinate attention between social partners and events or objects within the environment. Joint attention is recognized as one of the earliest forms of communication used by young children and is considered a prerequisite for more complex social skills. Children with autism spectrum disorder have major deficits in joint attention responding and initiating. Several studies have implemented procedures to train both forms of joint attention with children with autism. The purpose of the present study was to teach joint attention initiations, in the form of gaze shift and commenting, to two children with autism through multiple exemplar training and social reinforcement. Additionally, probe sessions were conducted in order to assess maintenance and generalization of these skills. Composite scores for joint attention initiations were measured for three typically developing participants to which the results of the multiple exemplar training were compared. Results showed that the participants with autism acquired both gaze shifting and commenting. Multiple exemplar training also proved effective in the facilitation of maintenance and generalization of joint attention skills. Training for one participant was discontinued due to a loss of interest in the toys. The benefits and possible improvements for the use of multiple exemplar training are discussed."

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