Abstract

Behavioral Skills Training (BST) is an evidence-based practice appropriate for practitioners, parents, clients, and other populations. It is frequently used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to support and augment skill development. Parent training in ABA has been found to be beneficial, and often critical, in the progress of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). While BST is a popular method of parent training, it is unclear how effective this type of training is in comparison to the training given to a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT). This study took place in conjunction with an ABA clinic providing in home therapy. Participants include three children with an ASD diagnosis, their parent, and their RBT. An adapted alternating treatment design was used to evaluate the effects of BST on parents in comparison to the training given to an average RBT. Secondarily, data was collected on child outcomes of the treatment provided and compared between parent and RBT. The findings of this study indicate that BST used with parents provides an immediate increase in the accuracy of implementation fidelity of target goals ran with their child. This increase in fidelity is comparable to the implementation fidelity of an RBT. There is moderate, but inconsistent evidence to support that child outcomes are affected by parent fidelity.

Degree

MS

College and Department

David O. McKay School of Education; Counseling Psychology and Special Education

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2025-06-05

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd13702

Keywords

behavioral skills training, applied behavior analysis, autism spectrum disorder, parent training, registered behavior technician

Language

english

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