Effects of behavioral skills training on learning opportunities among support staff in a preschool

Naturalistic teaching is widely used within applied behavior analysis (ABA) when children receive early intervention. It is an essential component in interventions to promote the generalization of skills among children. Staff training is equally critical in naturalistic teaching as with other ABA methods, but proper training is lacking in many schools due to issues such as time and budget. This study examined the effects of using behavior skills training to increase the number of learning opportunities created among support staff in a preschool during naturalistic teaching. Participants were three support staff and three children. Language targets were selected for each child, and support staff was taught to create learning opportunities based on those targets. Sessions were videotaped and scored afterward using datasheets. Social validity was also measured with a questionnaire regarding the training. All support staff created significantly more learning opportunities post-instruction. The children also emitted significantly more mands post-instruction. It was concluded that behavior skills training (BST) was effective and valid in increasing skills for the support staff and consequently increasing skills for the children. Support staff found the BST effective and valuable in their job during daily activities. Keywords: Learning opportunities, behavior skills training, staff training, naturalistic teaching

Author dc:creator

• Margrét Harpa Jónsdóttir 1993-

Contributors dc:contributor

• Háskólinn í Reykjavík

• Hagnýt atferlisgreining
• Meistaraprófsritgerðir
• Applied behaviour analysis
• Snemmtæk íhlutun
• Nám
• Starfsþjálfun
• Færni
• Incidental teaching
• Behavioral intervention
• Employees -- Training of
• Mental skills
• Sérkennsla

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1946/39482

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:skemman.is:1946/39482