All those studies supporting ABA for autism

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

It seems I often see quotes that anywhere from 500 to " thousands " of

studies support the effectiveness of using ABA or behaviorally based

methods for teaching individuals with autism. Does anyone by chance

know where this comes from? Is there a definitive list somewhere? I'd

love to be able to find it if there is...thanks for your help!

Barb

Ann Arbor MI

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Let me clarify my request since I'm getting some interesting answers - I

know that the number does NOT refer to studies that are all like the

Lovaas study, Remember I said " ...support the effectiveness of using ABA

or behaviorally based methods for teaching individuals with autism " .

Not just young children and not necessarily an outcome of " recovery " , or

even a significant increase in IQ or whatever cognitive measure or

diagnostic testing is being used. It can also include single-subject

design studies, in fact it would probably have to, since much of the

research in ABA is designed that way.

Basically I wanted a definitive list of published articles all about

using ABA/behaviorally-based methods for good teaching with regard to

student with autism, if it exists. Our parent group is writing a paper

saying we would like the underlying methodology for school programming

for students with autism to be behavioral in scope, since it really is

the most effective way to teach. And I'm not limiting this to DTT, of

course, but including established well-designed curricula like Direct

Instruction, or measurement tools like precision teaching, etc. And

this would encompass an age range of 2-25 (in MI you can stay in school

on an IEP through 25 if you don't graduate) and all functioning levels.

We basically see it as a two-pronged approach. Of course we desperately

want good EIBI - early intensive behavioral intervention going on for

the kids at least until they are 6 or so, but even after that, we would

like the methodologies used to teach the older kids and young adults

with autism to be consistent with good learning theory, which really is

behavioral. Just because a kid turns 7 or 10 or 15 doesn't mean we stop

using ABA with them, the focus may just shift to using behaviorally

based things teaching in a group setting, or being consistent with

behavioral principles in the course of the day, for managing behavior or

even just a little extra tutoring in a resource room if that's what the

student needs. Perhaps a student doesn't need 1-1 at all anymore, but

we still would like to see the curricula and teaching methods used that

are best for learners with autism since that will increase the chances

of their success. Especially since our district uses a balanced

literacy (whole language) approach in reading and Everyday math for

their standard curricula (gag).

I do think the best studies are comparison either to a control or among

different methodologies, but those are the most expensive and hardest to

find in the behavioral field, so I'll take single subject designs that

have gotten through the review process for publication.

I did already get one paper that mentions about 300 citations, compiled

by Larsson from LIFE in Minnesota, it is in PDF format and if

anyone wants it email me directly. Another one that was from the

journal Behavior Analyst today that has a tone of citations at the end

of the article at http://www.behavior-analyst-today.com/:

Cautilli, Hancock, , & TilIman (2002) Behavior Therapy and Autism:

Issues in Diagnosis and Treatment - The Behavior Analyst Today, 3 (2), 230

Thanks to all that responded!

Barb

Ann Arbor MI

e Quinby wrote:

> The hundreds to " thousands " of studies refer to each article that

> assesses the individual strategies within the ABA paradigm. So for

> example, I just picked a random copy of the Journal of Applied

> Behavior Analysis (Spring 2003). In this volume there are 6 research

> articles and 10 reports. At least 3 of the 16 articles included a

> participant with autism. That would be 3 articles that support the use

> of ABA with individuals with autism. But let's say that there are a

> total of 7 articles that can be used for individuals with autism even

> though the participant was described as having developmental delays or

> MR. Then that can inflate the number of acceptable articles.

>

> An example of some of the strategies included in this issue:

> noncontingent reinforcement, response restriction analysis, using

> previously refused foods as positive and negative reinforcement, high

> probability instructional sequence, etc. Note that none of the

> articles are about using " ABA " to cure or bring to " normal "

> functioning to any individual. Instead, they are very specific to the

> exact behavior they want to treat and what methods are used to get

> significant results.

>

> I'd be happy to clarify further if anyone has any questions.

>

> Sincerely,

> e