The following studies examined the effectiveness and the efficiency of individual and small group equivalence-based instruction on English and math relations with elementary school children. The first experiment implemented a multiple-probe design across three typically developing third graders using an automated procedure to evaluate the stimulus equivalence paradigm (SEP) on establishing English and math equivalence classes. Since some researchers have proposed that covert behavior facilitates in the formation of equivalence classes (Horne & Lowe, 1996; Stromer, Mackay, & Remington, 1996), the second experiment examined the possible role of covert behavior, more specifically, a visual imagining strategy, on correct responding after remedial instructional sessions. To further extend SEP into more academic environments, the third experiment used an observational learning procedure to evaluate the formation of English and math symmetry relations as well as the formation of equivalence classes in a small group format. The emergence of topography-based responding was also assessed after instruction for all three experiments.

Acts of school violence exist on a continuum of severity, ranging from less severe to anarchy, occur in various locations throughout schools, and affect various stakeholders. School counselors play an integral role in responding to school violence. The purpose of this study was to assess school counselors' perceptions of the occurrence of school violence and their preparedness to respond to violent events. This study provides valuable information about school counselors' perceptions of their personal safety, current programs and services provided to target reducing the impact of school violence, and training needs of professional counselors. A survey was completed by 103 school counselors serving schools in the St. Louis metro area. Results from the survey indicate community setting and years of experience influence school counselors' perceptions of school violence and their preparedness to respond. Implications for school counselor training, school-based violence preparation and school counselors' response to violence conclude the manuscript.

Skinner (1957) attested that the acquisition of one type of verbal operant will not necessarily occasion the emergence of another type of verbal response topography. In contrast, several studies have shown that multiple exemplar training (MET) is a mechanism that can facilitate the emergence of untrained operants, and it has been considered a powerful tool for establishing generalized operant responses also known as derived relational responses in the language of Relational Frame Theory (RFT). Using a multiple probe design across participants, the current study evaluated the effects of two training protocols in the emergence of untaught intraverbal responses (listing and vocal spelling of words). In Experiment 1, four participants diagnosed with intellectual disability were trained in taking dictation responses and tested for the emergence of intraverbal responses in the form of vocal spelling of words. In Experiment 2, three out of the four participants were trained to relate three sets of three synonyms each using a conditional discrimination training. The results demonstrated that the training procedures used during both experiments were effective in occasioning the emergence of untrained intraverbal responses. It was suggested that participants should have had a history of MET through the course of their academic life which facilitated the emergence of different intraverbal responses in this study.

The present study evaluated the validity and efficacy of the Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge Relational Training System Equivalence Module (PEAK-E) using a single-case, multiple baseline across skills design with 3 adolescents with autism. Total scores from the PEAK-E assessment (PEAK-E-A) and programs were used to evaluate the degree to which the assessment was able to identify language skills to teach using the PEAK-E curriculum, and how effective the PEAK-E curriculum was at teaching those target skills. Baseline results suggested that the programs selected using the PEAK-E-A were not currently in the participant’s language repertoire. Upon completion of 9 total programs across three participants (3 programs per participant), mastery was achieved and all derived relations emerged for all 9 programs. The PEAK-E pre-assessment, assessment, and training programs were proven to be valid and efficacious at improving participant’s language skill repertoire. Keywords: autism, applied behavior analysis, verbal behavior, derived relational responding, stimulus equivalence, PEAK

The purpose of the study was to evaluate if a novel approach to the didactic component of Behavior Skills Training (BST) would have an effect on parent treatment integrity responding to child problem behavior. During baseline, the researcher observed parent responses to child problem behavior across brief intervals. Additionally, a foundational ABA concepts didactic session took place with the researcher. In the second phase, parents participated in didactic learning sessions to learn about functions of behavior, as well as the appropriate function-based responses to their child’s problem behavior outlined in his/her Behavior Intervention Plan. During the BST phase, the researcher modeled function-based responding and/or provided performance feedback to parents on their correct or incorrect responses to child problem behavior. Results showed that the novel approach to the didactic component in BST was effective at increasing parent correct responding to child problem behavior for 2 out of 3 families.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:30:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6515.pdf: 2274743 bytes, checksum: 363167ede43e3cae38079ddb2b215fa6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-02-27 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Exclusion responding is the immediate selection of a comparison indefinite stimulus before a stimulus model also undefined, without a prior history teaching model. The acquisition of vocabulary due to exclusion responding can provide the expansion of verbal repertoire without prior training and accelerating the emergence of new relationships between words and referents. This study aimed to verify if the procedures of teaching conditional discriminations for babies favor the occurrence of exclusion responding and of learning of the relation new name new object, and to check how many trials were needed to check the occurrence of learning the new relation. In all two studies (S1 and S2), the procedure consisted of the establishment of auditory-visual conditional discrimination by matching-to-sample (MTS) with familiar stimuli (baseline), exclusion probes, learning probes and control probes. The difference between the procedures was the use of a cardboard box with masking function (comparison-empty) in S1 and sheets of vellum, with mask function, inserted in a notebook of education in S2. Eight 27-36 month-old babies participated in the first study and the aim was to investigate the emergence of exclusion responding and learning relationships that emerged in a play setting. Blocks of ten trials were performed, with the presentation of four comparison stimuli, one of them inside the box / mask. Four participants learned to baseline after retraining. All participants responded by exclusion and four had learning relations that emerged after retraining LB and the probes. It took six to 11 trials to exclude the occurrence of learning new relationships. A five 15-24 month-old babies participated in the second study. Blocks of six trials were performed, with the presentation of two and three comparison stimuli; consequence turned from the continuous reinforcement (CRF) to variable-ratio 2 (VR2) in baseline trials, and the probes were performed in extinction. The mask (comparison-empty) was inserted through fading in terms of education. All infants learned the conditional discrimination and exclusion responding (in the first or second attempt of each probe); however, none of them responded consistently with the criteria of learning relations new name new object. The need to devise new procedures to foster the learning of relationships that emerged in exclusion responding has been discussed. / O responder por exclusão consiste na seleção imediata de um estímulo de comparação indefinido condicionalmente a um modelo também indefinido, sem uma história prévia de ensino. A aquisição de vocabulário decorrente do responder por exclusão pode proporcionar a ampliação do repertório verbal sem treinamento prévio e a aceleração da emergência de novas relações entre palavras e referentes. Este trabalho visou verificar se os procedimentos de ensino de discriminações condicionais para bebês favorecem a ocorrência do responder por exclusão e a aprendizagem de relações nome novo-objeto novo, além de verificar quantas tentativas de seleção seriam necessárias para a ocorrência da aprendizagem da nova relação. Nos dois estudos (E1 e E2) o procedimento consistiu do estabelecimento das discriminações condicionais auditivovisuais por matching-to-sample (MTS) com estímulos familiares (linha de base), sondas de exclusão, sondas de aprendizagem e sondas controle. A diferença dos procedimentos foi o uso de uma caixa de papelão com função de máscara (comparação-vazio) no E1 e folhas de papel vegetal, com função de máscara, inseridas em um caderno de ensino no E2. No primeiro estudo participaram oito bebês, de 27 a 36 meses e o objetivo foi verificar a emergência do responder por exclusão e da aprendizagem das relações que emergiram, em um contexto de brincadeira. Foram realizados blocos de dez tentativas, com a apresentação de quatro estímulos de comparação, um deles dentro da caixa/máscara. Quatro participantes aprenderam a linha de base após retreino. Todos os participantes responderam por exclusão e quatro apresentaram aprendizagem das relações que emergiram, após retreino de LB e das sondas. Foram necessárias de seis a 11 tentativas de exclusão para a ocorrência da aprendizagem de novas relações. No segundo estudo participaram cinco bebês, de 15 a 24 meses. Foram realizados blocos de seis tentativas, com a apresentação de dois e três estímulos de comparação; a consequência passou de reforçamento contínuo (CRF) para razão variável 2 (VR2) em tentativas de linha de base, e as sondas foram realizadas em extinção. A máscara (comparação-vazio) foi inserida por meio de fading in no caderno de ensino. Todos os bebês aprenderam as discriminações condicionais e responderam por exclusão (na primeira ou segunda tentativa de cada sonda); porém, nenhum deles respondeu consistentemente com os critérios de aprendizagem das relações nome novo-objeto novo. Discutiu-se necessidade de planejar novos procedimentos que propiciem a aprendizagem das relações que emergiram no responder por exclusão.

This study hypothesized a direct relationship among three verbal phenomena: derived relational responding, verbal intelligence, and worry. It also hypothesized that experiential avoidance would mediate the relationship between derived relational responding and worry. Overall, results from this study failed to support a relationship between worry and the other two verbal phenomena, however, results did support a relationship between derived relational responding and verbal intelligence. Additionally, results indicated a significant relationship between experiential avoidance and worry. Future research should clarify the relationship among the three primary variables of interest, improve measurement of these variables, be more sensitive to external validity, and promote the study of acceptance-based treatments that target experiential avoidance.

Events like earthquakes, terrorist attacks, water contamination etc. have drawn an increased attention on the way crisis preparedness can be improved by citizens, authorities and society as a whole. Current research has highlighted the importance of social media in crisis communication and why social media are important, but neglects to describe how social media is used by public organizations during crisis situations. By studying a particular crisis situation in a municipal organization, this thesis investigates how public organizations organize to collect and share information with the use of social media during crisis events. The results show that social media enabled fast response to citizens, due to the coordination and collaboration ability within the municipality. The importance of an existing digital strategy is recognized, for proper managing of social media as response to sudden change.

Approximately 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year in the United States. Perspective taking is a repertoire known to be severely affected following a traumatic brain injury. The ability to take the perspective of another greatly contributes to social interactions and involves a complex set of skills. A small number of studies have attempted to train perspective taking skills in populations lacking the ability, but none with individuals diagnosed with TBI. This study aimed to teach perspective taking skills to adults with TBI through established protocols which teach deictic relational frames. Three adult males with traumatic brain injuries were exposed to the deictic relational training protocol. Each participant was tested on traditional theory of mind tasks prior to and following mastery of deictic training. All three participants achieved mastery of the relational training protocol and showed some improvement on theory of mind tasks following training and at follow-up.

Three children between the ages of 3 and 3 1/2 were asked to choose a colored object from an array of 5 colors in a baseline condition. After color preferences were established, stickers, small toys and praise were made contingent on choosing the least preferred color. After the first experimental condition resulted in consistent choosing of the least preferred color, a second experimental condition was implemented. At the beginning of each session a contingency-specifying stimulus (CSS) was presented, each CSS specifying a different color to be selected. Both contingency-shaping and CSS presentation resulted in stimulus control over responding. However, CSS presentation resulted in immediate redistributions of behavioral units across CSS sessions.