Katerina Dounavi

Tact training versus bidirectional intraverbal training in teaching a foreign language

The current study involved an evaluation of the emergence of untrained verbal relations as a function of 3 different foreign-language teaching strategies. Two Spanish-speaking adults received foreign-language (English) tact training and native-to-foreign and foreign-to-native intraverbal training. Tact training and native-to-foreign intraverbal training resulted in the emergence of a greater number of untrained responses, and may thus be more efficient than foreign-to-native intraverbal training.

Behaviour analysis and evidence-based education

Education can have a powerful and long-term effect on peoples lives and therefore should be based on evidence of what works best. This assertion warrants a definition of what constitutes good research evidence. Two research designs that are often thought to come from diametrically opposed fields – single-subject research designs and randomised controlled trials – are described and common features, such as the use of probabilistic assumptions and the aim of discovering causal relations, are delineated. Differences between the two research designs are also highlighted and this is used as the basis to set out how these two research designs might better be used to complement one another. Recommendations for future action are made accordingly.

High levels of burnout among early-career board-certified behavior analysts with low collegial support in the work environment

ABSTRACT Low job satisfaction and burnout are common among those providing behavioral services potentially leading to absenteeism, turnover, low standards of service, and poor health outcomes. The current study explored the occurrence of low job satisfaction and burnout in this population. We disseminated a web-based survey composed of a series of sociodemographic and job-related variables, the Job Satisfaction Survey, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. A diverse incidental sample of 183 practitioners currently providing behavioral services completed the survey. The results indicated that about two in every three participants were experiencing moderate to high burnout levels and about one in every three were experiencing little to no job satisfaction. A series of logistic regression models showed that social support in the work environment and supervision opportunities for trainees were key predictors of burnout and job satisfaction. We defined a socially supportive work environment as one with (a) several team members, (b) certified professionals, (c) frequent and positive interactions among team members, and (d) frequent and relevant staff training opportunities.

Telehealth as a Model for Providing Behaviour Analytic Interventions to Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review

Interventions based on applied behaviour analysis are considered evidence based practice for autism spectrum disorders. Due to the shortage of highly qualified professionals required for their delivery, innovative models should be explored, such as telehealth. Telehealth utilises technology for remote training and supervision. The purpose of our study was to systematically review the literature researching telehealth and ABA. We analysed intervention characteristics, outcomes and research quality in 28 studies and identified gaps. Intervention characteristics were: (1) research design (2) participants (3) technology (4) dependent variables (5) aims. Outcomes were favourable with all studies reporting improvements in at least one variable. Quality ratings were significantly low. Implications for future research and practice are discussed in light of identified methodological downfalls.

User Centered Reading Intervention for Individuals with Autism and Intellectual Disability

Individuals with autism and intellectual disability (ID) have complex learning needs and often have difficulty in acquiring reading comprehension skills using conventional teaching tools. Evidence based reading interventions for these learners and the use of assistive technology and application of behaviour analysis to develop user-centered teaching is discussed in this paper.

There are limitations to traditional mentalistic concepts of, and opportunities for parsimonious functionally based explanations, in relation to deferred imitation, joint attention, and social communication in autism spectrum disorders

This review provides a summary and appraisal commentary on the standard-comparison study by Strid, K., Heimann, M., Gillberg, C., Smith, L., & Tjus, T. (2012). Deferred Imitation and Social Communication in Speaking and Nonspeaking Children With Autism. Focus Autism Other Developmental Disabilities, DOI: 10.1177/1088357612468030 Source of funding and disclosure of interest: The study was supported by a number of grants from the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research and the European Science Foundation Cooperation in Science and Technology Action (ESF COST Action). No conflicts of interests were disclosed.