Education Commons^™

Child Language And Happiness Behaviors: Evaluating The Effects Of Caregiver Coaching, Ashlen Grubbs

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Caregivers of young children who have or are at risk for disabilities may struggle supporting their child’s language development. This study used a tailored rapid coaching intervention to teach a caregiver different naturalistic language interventions that can be used with their child during play. Evidence-based naturalistic skills for increasing child communication were chosen to teach the caregiver based on baseline levels of skills. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored RCI (training and coaching) with caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. Like other studies, this study involved evaluating child-level communication but extended child measures …

Evaluating A Rapid Coaching Intervention Delivered Remotely: Teaching Naturalistic Language Strategies To A Parent Of Child With Down Syndrome, Pallie Gullett

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Parents of young children play a significant role in their child’s communication development during early childhood. Many parents of children with or at risk for disabilities could benefit from learning ways to promote their child’s communication. This study implemented a rapid coaching intervention to teach a parent of a child with Down syndrome how to implement naturalistic language strategies such as expanding on their child’s play, providing linguistic input during play, and arranging the environment to create an opportunity for their child to communicate.

Training Paraprofessionals In The Implementation Of Aided Language Modeling With Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities And Ccn, Julianne Hill

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this research is to train special education paraprofessionals in the implementation of Aided Language Modeling (ALM) through a coaching program. A single-case multiple probe design across three paraprofessional/student dyads was used to analyze data. Coaching procedures included a single 20-minute training workshop with the researcher between baseline and intervention and post-session conversations after each intervention trial. The research took place in a public school in the southeastern United States. The school was located outside of a metropolitan area in a suburban school district. The study took place to answer the following questions: (1) With the implementation of …

How Important Is Parental Involvement And Engagement In Preschool, Emilee M. Dixon

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to evaluate preschool classrooms’ parental engagement throughout the school year. Specifically, the study aims to assess if parents felt they received information to support their child's development, if the school offered engagement opportunities, and if the parents believed that engagement impacted their child. Research studies have shown or indicated that parental engagement is a key component to a child’s success. This study highlights the importance of parental involvement and engagement for children in preschool. The study involves reviewing a survey to gain a better understanding of when, how, and why parental involvement and engagement …

Using Naturalistic Language Interventions To Increase Expressive Communication Of Aac Users With Autism, Kacey Eaton

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

This study's purpose was to use naturalistic language interventions to increase the communication rate via alternative and augmentative communication during play with young children with autism. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of a combination of naturalistic language interventions when implemented during 10-minute play sessions within the participants resource classroom. Naturalistic language interventions utilized include aided language modeling, environmental arrangements, naturalistic time delay, and language expansions. Results indicated that naturalistic language interventions are effective in increasing expressive communication via AAC with children with autism.

Building Independence Through Structured Work Systems For Students With Moderate To Severe Disabilities, Maggie Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Students, especially those with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities oftentimes need support in learning to work independently. This study examined if the use of structured work systems increased student independence during regular scheduled independent work times in the general education and MSD special education classrooms. Using a single-case multiple-probe design, this study measured the percentage of steps completed independently when working with academic tasks related to individual IEP goals.

Effect Of Video Modeling And Teacher Praise On Turn-Taking Behavior Of Preschoolers In An Inclusive Setting, Happiness Efeturi

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

This study investigates the efficacy of video modeling combined with teacher praise in fostering turn-taking skills among preschoolers in inclusive settings. Employing a multiple probe across participants design, three preschoolers will undergo baseline, intervention, and maintenance phases. Video modeling sessions, featuring peers engaging in turn-taking activities, will be alternated with teacher praise. Data collected through event recording and analyzed via Microsoft Excel will determine the intervention's impact on turn-taking behavior. Results aim to contribute to literature on effective interventions for preschoolers, offering insights into employing video modeling and teacher praise in inclusive educational environments.

Group Vs. Individual Video Modeling For Acquisition Of Pilates For Individuals With Disabilities, Brittany Rounce

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

This study presents findings from an alternating treatment design investigation into the efficacy of group versus individual video modeling in facilitating the acquisition of Pilates techniques among individuals with disabilities. The study aimed to assess how these different instructional modalities influenced participants' learning outcomes. The research involved a detailed analysis of two participants, with a focus on observing any variations in their response patterns during the acquisition phase. Through systematic data collection and analysis, the study evaluated the effectiveness of group versus individual Pilates video modeling. The results revealed distinct responses within the participant group, with one individual exhibiting differential …

Pixels Or People: A Comparison Of The Differenital Effects Of Animated And Human Video Models On Exercise Behaviors For Hgh School Students With Intellectual Disability, Jade Alexis Fulkerson

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Individuals with intellectual disabilities, with or without autism spectrum disorder, often require structured programming to facilitate acquisition of skills. Video modeling, an evidence-based strategy, offers a promising avenue for skill instruction. While research has demonstrated the effectiveness of human-modeled video interventions, limited research has been conducted into the efficacy of animated models. Addressing this gap, the present study employed an alternating treatments design to compare the effectiveness of human and animated models in teaching exercise behaviors to high school students with intellectual disabilities, with or without autism spectrum disorder. Results revealed variability among participants: one individual exhibited superior performance with …

Comparing Indirect Assessment Results To A Direct Function Focused Preference Assessment To Identify Potential Reinforcers To Increase Task Completion In A School Setting, Kailee Joy Matthews

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In the present study, a concurrent operant analysis (COA) was conducted for one elementary aged student in a publicly funded school to determine if the results yielded an interpretable outcome to identify a potential reinforcer to increase work completion. A simultaneous treatments design was used during the COA to assess choice making behavior. The results of the COA indicated the student’s choice making behavior was maintained by access to attention. An indirect measure of motivation was used as a secondary assessment to identify a potential reinforcer to increase work completion and to determine if the results would align with the …

Effects Of Peer Training On The Use Of Aided Language Modeling And Aac User Communicative Acts, Shelby Smith Sheets

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of two peers versus one peer on the rate of aided language modeling. The peers were trained and then implemented the communication strategy while playing a tabletop game with an AAC user with extensive support and complex communication needs (ESCCN). A multitreatment design was used to compare the effects of the rate of aided language models (ALM) provided by peers, the rate of communicative acts (CA) provided by the AAC user, and the fidelity of peer implementation of ALM when two peers versus one peer played a tabletop game with …

Comparing The Efficacy Of Interventions Derived From Concurrent Operant Analysis And Indirect Assessment, Lane Marquardt

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In this study, a simultaneous treatments design was used to conduct a concurrent operant analysis (COA) to evaluate the choice making behavior of one elementary aged student. The COA results were used as a possible reinforcer for one of the conditions for the intervention to increase work completion. An indirect assessment, Questions about Behavioral Function (QABF), was used identify a hypothesized function to the student’s lack of task completion behavior. The results from thee QABD were used as a possible reinforcer for one of the conditions for the intervention to increase work completion. An alternating treatments design (ATD) was used …

Evaluating A Rapid Coaching Intervention That Includes Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Teaching A Parent Naturalistic Strategies, Lauren Reiss

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Parents of young children with or at risk for disabilities face added stress and challenges every day. This study implemented a rapid coaching intervention to teach a parent naturalistic language interventions such as mapping language onto their child's play, narrating their own play, and arranging the environment. In addition, parents were trained to use a milieu teaching procedure. In addition, a pre-service behavior interventionist and speech-language pathologist collaborated on selecting instructional targets for the child.

Evaluating The Differential Effects Of Using A Technology-Based Antecedent Intervention In Comparison To A Technology-Based Treatment Package, Rachel Fosnaught

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

This study investigated the differential effects of using non-contingent reinforcement in the form of attention as an antecedent intervention in comparison to using non-contingent reinforcement in addition to self-monitoring as a treatment package. A multi treatment single case research design was utilized in this study. Levels of student’s on-task behavior were measured to evaluate the differential effects of an antecedent intervention in comparison to the combination of an antecedent and consequent intervention. This study also only used treatments that were technologically delivered to the participants.

Self-Advocacy Training For Students With Complex Communication Needs Using Time Delay And Generative Learning, Alexis Rai Patterson

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Employers seek employees with communicative competence in various vocational environments. Communicative competence is created through socio-linguistic skills such as self-advocacy and self-determination skills. This study examined communicative competence for individuals with complex communication needs within a vocational environment. Generalization of skills across environments is imperative for skill development for individuals with disabilities. This study also examined the use of generalization of skills with using generative learning.

A Comparative Analysis Of Applied Behavior Analysis And The Montessori Method, Emily Webb

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The Montessori method is a multi-sensory curriculum design based on Dr. Maria Montessori’s observations of the positive outcomes a multi-sensory educational approach had when working with children with disabilities; however, there is little empirical data to support the outcomes of using the Montessori method to teach children with disabilities. Despite the limited amount of quantitative research on the Montessori method and early childhood special education, studies suggest Montessori educators are open to professional development on working with children with disabilities and are willing to implement other methods to provide support for those children while still maintaining the integrity of the …

Establishing Self-Instruction Skills By Teaching Mands For Informational Inquiries With Intelligent Voice Assistants Using Progressive Time Delay, Taylor Rae Kelley

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In this study, unknown questions were posed to four high school students with intellectual disabilities, and they were directed to use intelligent voice assistants to mand for the answers. This self-instruction skill was taught using progressive time delay within a multiple probe across participants design with embedded generalization probes. Participants were trained to initiate Siri® or Google Assistant™ before baseline sessions were conducted. The effectiveness of progressive time delay to teach this skill was evaluated when questions were presented by research implementers and when presented by untrained communication partners. Implementers exposed participants to additional voice commands at the end of …

Asynchronous E-Training And Coaching To Indonesian Parents: Naturalistic Strategies To Support Language Development Of Children With Social-Communication Delays, Ndaru Prapti

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The study is about virtual training and coaching to Indonesian parents of preschool-age children with social-communication delays to implement naturalistic intervention. These intercontinental coaching sessions were delivered asynchronously because of the time difference between the coach and the participants and internet bandwidth barrier in some rural areas in Indonesia. Multiple-baseline design across behaviors was utilized to determine the effect of asynchronous training and coaching program to teach three Indonesian parents three naturalistic strategies (i.e., modeling, mand-model, and time delay) during natural routines. Parent-child dyads video-recorded their interaction before and after intervention.

The intervention was started by learning the strategies, video-recorded …

Disability Label And Least Restrictive Environments: General Elementary Education Teachers’ Experiences And Perceptions, Sara Sheffler

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The least restrictive environment (LRE) is the educational placement determined necessary for obtaining maximum educational benefits. The individualized education program (IEP) team determines the LRE after analyzing the student’s academic and behavioral data and assessing the student’s unique needs. Specific special educational labels may produce a higher-than-normal frequency of more restrictive environment decisions by the IEP team. The current study surveyed general education elementary teachers about LRE placements of a hypothetical student with either autism spectrum disorder or emotional and behavioral disorders. Teachers were provided with a hypothetical vignette of a student engaging in challenging behavior, followed by hypothetical data …

Effects Of Video Modeling With Voice-Over Narration Versus No Voice-Over Narration, Kennedy Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In the current study, the effects of video modeling with voice-over narration (VMW) was compared to the effects of video modeling with no voice-over narration (VMN) when learning the acquisition of a vocational skill. Four high-school students within a public school who spent most of their school day in a special education classroom participated in the study. An adapted alternating treatments design was used to compare the VMW and VMN conditions and then a best alone condition was conducted for each participant that used the video modeling procedure that demonstrated superiority during the comparison. A modification of the inclusion of …

Improving Writing Skills With Kindergarten Students Using Embedded Learning Opportunities In Dramatic Play, Samantha Tabor

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

How do kindergarten teachers meet the required instructional mins, get students to reach mastery of common core standards, and embed learning opportunities in play? Teachers will need to focus on creating environments that foster creativity, problem-solving, and will help their individual students grow academically, socially, and emotionally (Cress & Holm, 2017). There are very few studies that discuss embedding learning opportunities for kindergarten students using kindergarten common core standards. There are no current studies that address kindergarten teachers using embedded learning opportunities to increase kindergarten writing skills as outlined by common core standards. This study focused on just that: Do …

Coaching And Training Paraprofessionals To Implement Communication Strategies In The Classroom With Students With Disabilities, Andrea Grace Antoniewicz

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effects of a training and coaching intervention on increasing paraprofessionals use of communication strategies to increase the participation between students with disabilities and paraprofessionals. Students with CCN struggle to interact with peers and communicate appropriately, and therefore need guided instruction by adults. To encourage interactions across contexts, paraprofessionals must first learn how to use communication strategies. This skill also was chosen to extend our knowledge on coaching paraprofessionals to use different communication strategies to promote communication with students with ESN and CCN.

The Effects Of System Of Least Prompts On Preschool Children’S Play Skills, Hailey D. Helton

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

This research study utilized a multiple probe design to teach pretend play skills while embedding the system of least prompts teaching strategy during pretend play. Four preschool-aged children with and without disabilities participated in the study. When the system of least prompts was embedded within pretend play, play skills increased.

How Do Parents Of Typically Developing Children Perceive And Interact With Children With Exceptionalities?, Zurisaday N. Decker

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to examine how parents with children displaying typical development, perceive and interact with children who have exceptionalities or disabilities and explore parents’ openness to having discussions about exceptional children in inclusive classrooms. Given that parents function as foundational sources of knowledge to children in their early childhood years, understanding parents’ perceptions of and interactions with children with disabilities may help to understand how these parents’ children will, in-turn, perceive and interact with classroom peers with disabilities. This line of inquiry is supported by Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, which views microsystems such as the family, …

Teaching The Picture Exchange Communication System Phases I-Ii To Preschool Students With Disabilities, Olivia Kelly

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching the PECS protocol to preschool students with disabilities using the PECS Phases I-II. A multiple probe across participants design was used to conduct the study and evaluate the effectiveness of the training on the PECS Phases I-II. The results of the study demonstrated that teaching the PECS protocol using picture cards of preferred items was effective in the preschool setting to teach preschool students with moderate to severe disabilities to independently travel to a PECS book and exchange a picture request with the investigator.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Using A Rapid Coaching Intervention To Teach Parents Naturalistic Strategies To Teach Communication, Rose Campbell

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In this study, a multi-component, rapid coaching intervention that included providing rationales, modeling, coaching during brief practice sessions, and performance-based feedback to train parents of children with communication delays to use naturalistic strategies during play. In addition, this study modeled successful interdisciplinary collaboration. A multiple baseline design across behaviors was used to evaluate the intervention and subsequent changes in the parent’s behavior. Results indicated that hat the rapid coaching model can be effective when it came to teaching parents how to implement naturalistic strategies. Additional data are needed before a definitive decision can be made regarding the effectiveness of the …

Comparison Of In-Person And Virtual Coaching Of Preservice Special Education Teachers, Sydney Green

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

Traditionally, university supervisors have provided coaching to special education preservice teachers after direct observations of sessions within the classroom. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, many public school districts in the United States enforced visitor restriction policies that made face-to-face observations difficult or impossible. When faced with this challenge, university supervisors were forced to consider alternative ways to provide feedback. Many questioned whether virtual coaching was as effective as in-person coaching in increasing teacher behaviors. Presently, there are limited studies that suggest one delivery method is more effective or efficient than the other. This study used a Repeated Acquisition …

Increasing Initiations Of Communication For Students With Moderate And Severe Disabilities Using A Prompt Hierarchy, Ryan Elizabeth Queenan

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to increase initiations of communication for high school students with moderate and severe disabilities using a prompt hierarchy in the context of environmental arrangements. A multiple probe across participants design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing a prompt hierarchy with an environmental arrangement. The results showed that when using a prompt hierarchy in the context of an environmental arrangement were effective in increasing initiations of communication for high school students with moderate and severe disabilities.

Using Concurrent Operant Analyses To Predict Reinforcers To Increase Work Completion In Schools, Amanda Jo Schaefer

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

In this study, a concurrent operant analysis (COA) was conducted for two elementary aged students in a public school to determine if the results yielded a possible reinforcer for work completion. A simultaneous treatments design was used during the COA to evaluate choice making behavior. The results of the COA indicated the student’s choice making behavior was maintained by access to tangibles, access to attention, or escape. The results were then used to create a token economy in which the student could earn their preferred reinforcer for work completion. An alternating treatments design was used to compare work completion during …

Teaching Social Communicative Intents To Elementary Aged Students Through The Use Of Aided Language Modeling, Kaitlyn Yvette Kousins

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of this study was to extend the research of using aided language modeling as an intervention with elementary aged students with extensive support and complex communication needs. A multiple probe design across participants was used to determine if there is a functional between an aided language modeling intervention and improvements in contextually relevant initiations (i.e., requests and comments) between children with extensive support and complex communication needs. The results showed that using aided language modeling within play-based sessions was effective in teaching social communicative intents to students with extensive support and complete communication needs.