Candidate: Koji Takeshima

Degree of: Doctor of Philosophy

Department: Psychology

Title: Pyramidal Staff Training: Teaching Play and Manding to Children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Committee: Dr. Richard Mallot, Chair
Dr. John Austin
Dr. James Carr
Dr. John Esch

Date: Friday, July 8, 2005 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.
2536 Wood Hall

Abstract: This study involved pyramidal staff training and the teaching of play and manding to children with autism and developmental disabilities in an early intervention program. The following training components were sequentially introduced to each technician: (a) a written procedure; (b) video modeling; (c) a slide show and checklist, combined with video modeling; and (d) feedback. The trainees improved their skills in teaching play as these training components were introduced, and the children's performance in play and manding subsequently improved. For the skills of teaching play, the core component of the training that resulted in the largest improvement varied across technicians. For the skills of teaching manding, most of the technicians improved only with the written procedure.

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