Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Background Ongoing outcome data replication on target behaviors with autistic individuals using applied behavior analysis (ABA) confirms its effectiveness and remains an essential evidenced-based standard of care. This replication study aims to further confirm the impact of discrete trial training and mass trials on general target behaviors within a naturalistic environment. Methods Data was gathered from 92 children and four adult autistic individuals over one month from 7/7/23 to 8/8/23 using a repeated measures design. This study used a retrospective chart review with general target behaviors to determine the effectiveness of ABA treatments using discrete trial training and mass trials across time and age categories in a naturalistic environment. Results A mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated statistical significance (sphericity assumed), F(2,168) = 31.663, p < 0.001 (time). Multiple comparisons using bootstrapped paired t-tests indicated p < 0.001 on the three comparisons. There was a significant interaction effect (sphericity assumed) with time x age category, F(8,168) = 2.918, p = 0.004. Interaction contrasts indicated statistically significant differences over time within the 1-4 years, 5-8 years, and a portion of 9-12 years, and not within the 13-16 years and 17-73 years age groups. Conclusions Autistic individuals receiving ABA demonstrated statistically significant improvement in target behaviors over one month. There was a significant interaction between time and age on target behaviors, suggesting a significant association between time and age categories. The reporting of ongoing intervention outcomes provides further justification for continued treatments relative to target behavior mastery with autistic individuals.
Peterson et al. (2024) studied this question.