THE EFFECTS OF TEACHER IMPLEMENTATION OF DIFFERENTIAL REINFORCEMENT OF ALTERNATIVE BEHAVIOR IN INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

• Main Author: Hitch, Elena J.
• Format: Others
• Published: UKnowledge 2019
• Subjects: Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors; classroom; autism; trial-based functional analysis; teacher training; Special Education and Teaching
• Online Access: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/edsrc_etds/73; https://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=edsrc_etds

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of a classroom teacher implementing trail-based functional analyses (FAs), experimentally evaluate the effects of a classroom teacher implementing differential reinforcement of alternative (DRA) procedures with participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder in the context of a natural setting, and assess the feasibility of the DRA for the classroom teacher. A multiple baseline with an embedded ABAB design was used for one participant and an ABAB design was used for the second participant to measure the percentage of the participants’ engagement in the alternative behavior and the target behavior. Results showed that the classroom teacher could implement the trail-based FAs with fidelity, DRA procedures were effective for both participants, and the teacher was neutral in regard to the feasibility of the procedures.