| Title: |
The Impact of Behavior Therapist Training on Responding to Joint Attention in Autistic Children |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Diana E. Parry-Cruwys (ORCID 0000-0001-6697-5191); Kendra E. Guinness (ORCID 0000-0001-6876-7484); Joanne Laurore; Gina B. Coote; Jacquelyn M. MacDonald (ORCID 0000-0002-3789-4728) |
| Source: |
Journal of Early Intervention. 2026 48(1):72-90. |
| Availability: |
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
19 |
| Publication Date: |
2026 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: |
Attention; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Behavior Modification; Allied Health Personnel; Skill Development; Training; Program Effectiveness; Preschool Children; Communication Skills; Reinforcement |
| DOI: |
10.1177/10538151251350616 |
| ISSN: |
1053-8151; 2154-3992 |
| Abstract: |
Joint attention (JA), defined as shared focus on an object or event with another person, is an important skill for social and language development. Autistic children may demonstrate differences in JA, and addressing JA may be included in naturalistic intervention. The study taught three behavior therapists (BTs) to implement the JA teaching procedure using behavioral skills training (BST). In addition, four autistic children learned to respond to a "show" bid for JA using socially based reinforcers and interactive stimuli using a multiple baseline across participants design. BTs demonstrated low accuracy of teaching JA bids during baseline. Following BST, the percentage correct increased to mastery levels and generalized to teaching the child participants to respond to JA bids. When JA training was introduced, performance levels of responding to JA moved from low levels to mastery levels for child participants and generalized to novel stimuli or people. BTs found both training procedures to be socially valid. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2026 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1496957 |
| Database: |
ERIC |