Further evaluation of enhanced written instructions

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2015

First Committee Member

Graff, Richard B.

Second Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Third Committee Member

Karsten, Amanda

Abstract

"Recent research demonstrated that inexperienced staff were able to accurately implement paired-stimulus and multiple stimulus without replacement preference assessments when access to enhanced written instructions was provided (Graff & Karsten, 2012b). Although expert-facilitated training is desirable, it is not widely accessible. In this study, the efficacy of an antecedent training tool to teach inexperienced individuals to implement a free operant preference assessment (Roane, Vollmer, Ringdahl, & Marcus, 1998) was evaluated. In Experiment 1, eight newly hired staff members participated. When provided with written instructions alone (the methods section from the published study), accuracy was below criterion levels for all participants. When access to enhanced written instructions was provided (i.e., technical jargon was minimized; instructions included pictures, diagrams, and step-by-step examples), 3 of 8 participants accurately implemented the assessment. When the enhanced instructions were modified slightly, accuracy for 4 additional participants increased to criterion levels. In Experiment 2, four parents and special education teachers participated. Accuracy was low for all participants in baseline. When provided with the modified enhanced written instructions, accuracy quickly increased to criterion levels for all participants. Self-instruction packets provide opportunities to disseminate behavior-analytic technology and serve as a training tool that is both accessible and cost effective."

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