Question re Mass Trials - is 10 or 20 the norm and why??

March 1, 2005

Hello,

I'm hoping some of the experts on the board will help me out. I'm

locked into an ongoing debate with my consultant regarding the number

of trials being run on my child's program. The consultant has been

running 20 trials per program. My other therapists have been

complaining to me that my son seems bored with the programs, and they

believe it's related to the sheer number of repetitions of each

program per day. He has become disruptive and very inattentive.

She seems to be inflexible on this issue of the number of trials.

She claims that the research shows that 20 trials per program is

best. Like I said, I think my son has become very bored with the 20

trials, and this is leading to disruptive and inattentive behaviors.

I was under the impression that 10 trials was the norm, not 20. I

don't see the point of running 20 trials, if it causes increased

errors and lower success rates.

I would greatly appreciate your views on the matter, and any research

you could point me in the direction of, either for or against the 20

or the 10 trial protocol. I want to discuss this with her on Friday,

and really am at a loss as to how to find this specific type of

information. My community library does not have any journals or an

extensive collection of books on the topic.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions and input,

Therese

March 1, 2005

In a message dated 3/1/2005 6:21:11 PM Central Standard Time,

abanymom@... writes:

> She seems to be inflexible on this issue of the number of trials.

> She claims that the research shows that 20 trials per program is

> best

Hi there:)

I would start for asking her to site the research and review it with you.

Number of trials is determined by many many factors and is certainly case by

case

child by child, program by program.

She should welcome your inquiries as any consultant must be willing and glad

to answer the questions why/ how/ and " tell me more " .

love to all, kat

kat

www.firstyearsinterventions.com

www.autismtreatment.info

March 1, 2005

Hi,

I'm a parent and I can't point you to research, but as a parent, stick to

your guns! Your instincts are right! My consultant calls my child the one

trial kid because he picks things up fast. Your consultan't shouldn't be so

hung up on " rules " but more in tune with how your child learns. Perhaps a

reminder that that's what the program is for in the first place, to teach

your child to learn. If he's beyond 20 trials he's beyond 20 trials. If you

can't negotiate something it may be time to seek out a new consultant. Trust

what you're feeling, since early on other parents in my support group have

told me, " you know your child best, trust your gut " . It hasn't been wrong

yet!

Best of luck,

March 1, 2005

We have this issue, too, with the teacher in our school district's so-called

ABA program... No, I don't have the research, but here are my issues with

massed trials:

1. They lead to rote responding. I would prefer for my son to attend and

discriminate, and not just respond rotely.

2. What is really being taught? After 1 or 2 trials, it seems that the

response would become echoic, instead of, for example, a mand, tact, RFFC,