A Self-Instructional Package to Train New Staff to Conduct Discrete Trial Teaching

Abstract

AbstractA Self-instructional package replicating Graff & Karsten (2012) to train undergraduate university students with no previous experience in conducting preference assessments (PA) and its extension to discrete trial training (DTT) is evaluated and assessed in this study. A simulated experimenter as a confederate played the role of a child with intellectual disability. The study had two phases, (1) a baseline in which the participant receives written instructions and written data sheets with no individualized feedback or training, (2) a second phase in which the participant receives enhanced written instructions and enhanced written data sheets. Twelve university students with no prior behavioral training knowledge or experience participated. Results replicate the outcomes reported by Graff & Karsten (2012) in that enhanced training materials appear sufficient for establishing initial accurate preference assessment training performance in typical naive adults. These same conclusions are extended to DTT training and a component analysis is provided regarding the effectiveness of the different teaching strategies.