Parent training is a critical component of behaviorally based intervention systems, such as applied behavior analysis (ABA). Although the benefits of parent education and training are well-documented, few studies have examined the effects on child learning or identified the effects of parent interventions on different degrees of generalization for…

Recommendations for achieving generalized instructional outcomes often overlook the capacity for generative learning for most verbally competent humans. Four children (ages 5-8) participated in this project. In Study 1, we provided decontextualized discrete trial teaching to establish arbitrary relations between colors, pictures of characters, and…

Leaders in education need to identify ways to better train and support professionals so that they do not leave the field (Garcia & Weiss, 2020). Using behavioral education practices, such as precision teaching and Say All Fast Minute Every Day Shuffled (SAFMEDS), promotes skill development and generative learning (Johnson, 2021). Training…

Theoretical extensions of Skinner's verbal behavior that emphasize derived relational responding (stimulus equivalence, relational frame theory, and bidirectional naming) can improve the complexity and scope of applied behavior-analytic training models with children. We evaluated the prevalence and content of empirical research on derived…

Generalization and maintenance of intervention outcomes are of paramount importance in achieving socially significant outcomes within applied behavior analysis. Social skills interventions for young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are widely represented within the empirical literature; however, generalization and maintenance outcomes…

This study evaluated the effects of a training package on the implementation of incidental teaching by instructors and on targeted initiations of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Four instructors were introduced to incidental teaching through a 1-hr individualized training session. Specific feedback was provided for each incidental…

Using electronic tablets to present flash cards for teaching skills is becoming common among practitioners. However, no published study compared the effectiveness of the electronic tablet-based flash cards to paper flash cards for teaching receptive labeling skills. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of the iPad-based and paper…

Many teachers struggle with implementing self-help eating goals for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). No group programs exist to target this important problem. We used findings from applied behavior analysis research and adapted single-subject interventions into a group-based eating program. In describing the program using two…

This applied dissertation study compared the effectiveness of the iPad-assisted and traditional flashcard-assisted instruction for teaching receptive labeling skills to learners with autism. A lack of access to certified service providers and insurance coverage and the inability to receive a diagnosis of autism prevent families from accessing…