Theses and Dissertations
Date of Award
Spring 5-2018
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education
Advisor
Christine Reeve
Committee Member
Kartina Pann
Committee Member
Kimberly Durham
Keywords
applied behavior analysis, autism, discrete trial teaching, natural environment teaching, verbal behavior
Abstract
There are many different interventions available to individuals with autism, and the benefits of each therapy may vary for each student. Two vastly different treatments are discrete trial teaching (DTT) and the verbal behavior approach (VBA). While both are based in the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA), VBA relies more on naturalistic teaching opportunities to teach language in context than DTT, which is conducted in structured instructional sessions. The literature supporting DTT is extensive, with many randomized control trial studies to corroborate its effectiveness. Meanwhile, VBA lacks empirical support as a package; though many studies demonstrate the success of parts of the approach in teaching children with autism. The purpose of this study is to compare these two methodologies to help determine the effectiveness of VBA as a teaching package. A single subject alternating treatment design was used to determine differential effects on language acquisition, generalization, maintenance, and rates of behavior on two students with autism. Both participants acquired new language and manding targets using the Lovaas’ DTT and VBA interventions. Trials to criterion were higher using Lovaas’ DTT, but lower when considering sessions to criterion. Overall time of instruction was lower when using VBA. For one participant, generalization was similar across both methodologies, but for the other participant, generalization was higher for targets acquired using VBA. Maintenance was higher for both participants for VBA targets. Rates of problem behaviors were lower for both participants when using VBA. This study was the first to fully describe the procedures used in VBA as a package, and limitations and lines of future research are discussed.
NSUWorks Citation
Irene Chan. 2018. Comparison of Discrete Trial Teaching and the Verbal Behavior Approach in Early Learners With Autism in a School Setting. Doctoral dissertation. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. (303)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/303.