Healthcare professionals and government officials have advised the use of personal protective equipment, such as face masks and face shields, to assist with limiting the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Due to the prevalence of challenging behavior associated with other medical routines, the present study evaluated a treatment package composed of graduated exposure, prompts, reinforcement, and escape extinction on tolerance of wearing a face covering for up to 5 min for 12 children with ASD in a systematic replication of Cox et al. (2017) and Sivaraman et al. (2020). We also extended previous research by measuring generalization of face covering type (i.e., face shield) and the efficacy of a treatment extension for tolerating a face covering for up to 15 min during the participants' trial-based instruction and play periods.
Possible factors in prejudice toward Muslims and those perceived to be Muslims were investigated. We specifically investigated cues of foreignness that may communicate threat. Using a 2 (Complexion: dark vs. light) ¥ 2 (Dress: Middle Eastern vs. Western) ¥ 2 (Name: Allen vs. Mohammed) between-subjects design, we expected cues of foreignness (dress and name) to have a greater impact on perceptions of targets than phenotype (complexion). Participants reviewed portraits of young men varying in the manipulated characteristics and gave their impressions. Generally, complexion did not affect perceptions, but portraits in Middle Eastern dress were rated less positively. There was a name by dress interaction in which Allen in Western dress was rated least negatively. Implications for future research are discussed.
Face touching is a prevalent behavior for individuals of all ages. However, frequent face touching has potential negative side effects such as the transmission of viruses, bacterial infections, and skin infections. The present investigation extended previous research by evaluating a reinforcement-based intervention package on the reduction of face touching for children with autism spectrum disorder who tolerated face coverings (i.e., masks, face shields). The treatment package included an unsignaled, momentary differential reinforcement of other behavior procedure with prompts. Results indicated that rates of face touching decreased from baseline levels for all three children during 5-min treatment sessions. Furthermore, low levels of face touching were observed during follow-up sessions that were longer in duration (i.e., 15 min) across participants. Results support the utility of behavioral interventions on the reduction of potentially unsafe behaviors related to medical routines.
Caregiver training is an important component of behavioral intervention; however, many barriers exist for in-person training. Alternatively, behavioral therapists may use telehealth as a service delivery method. To effectively train caregivers through telehealth, therapists should receive explicit training, but there has been limited research on effective methods for teaching this skill. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate video modeling with voice-over instruction (VMVO) to train therapists to implement 11 component skills of caregiver training through telehealth to teach confederate caregivers to implement a guided compliance procedure. We measured the therapist’s implementation of the component skills during a scripted role-play before and after video-model training within a multiple baseline design across participants. We also conducted maintenance and generalization probes to a novel skill. All seven therapists learned the skill, but three therapists required a feedback component in addition to the VMVO. The results suggest that VMVO may be an efficient and effective method for training therapists to conduct caregiver training via telehealth. Furthermore, results indicate that component skill analyses may be valuable to monitor skills that require remediation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.