Dissertation Defenses

Doctoral Dissertation Announcement

---

Candidate: Nicole E. Gravina

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Psychology

Title: An Evaluation of the Efficacy of the Consultant Workshop Model in a Human Service Setting

Committee:
Dr. John Austin, Chair
Dr. Alyce Dickinson
Dr. Jim Carr
Dr. Keith Miller

Date: Monday, July 28, 2008 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
3715 Wood Hall

Abstract:
The purpose of the present dissertation was to document and evaluate the consultant-workshop model commonly employed by OBM consultants. The consultation took place in a non-profit human service setting that delivers behavioral services to children diagnosed with autism and their families. Workshop attendees were 13 senior therapists who oversaw 6 to 8 instructor therapists who provided behavioral services to clients and 3 clinical supervisors who oversaw senior therapists. The training took place in 2005 (i.e., three years prior to this evaluation) across five months and four workshop sessions. Participants learned to pinpoint, measure, diagnose, and intervene on performance issues, and then they presented their data at the last workshop. Study one documented these projects. Pinpoint types and impact as well as effect size were evaluated. In addition, follow-up information was gathered to determine the extent to which this approach facilitated maintenance and generalization. Results indicated that projects were, in general, very effective. Some components of the projects remained in place, and there was some evidence to indicate that the performance improvements maintained but little evidence of generalization.
Study two compared management practices (e.g., frequency of feedback) for individuals who took the workshop and those who did not. Results indicated that the two groups were very similar on these measures. Based on these findings, recommendations for improving the workshop model are suggested.