Preprint / Version 1

Evaluating the Efficacy and Social Validity of a Culturally Adapted Training Program for Parents and Service Providers in India

Authors

  • Maithri Sivaraman Tendrils Centre for Autism Research and Intervention, Chennai, India
  • Tara Fahmie California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA USA

Keywords:

Cultural adaptations, Function-based treatment, India, Problem behavior, Training manual

Abstract

In regions such as India, where one-to-one behavior-analytic intervention is not easily accessible, parents and service providers may advocate for children with disabilities better if they have foundational training in behavioral approaches to problem behavior. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a culturally adapted training delivered in an underresourced region of India. Ten parents and professionals from Chennai completed the training, and the researchers evaluated its effects using a multiple-baseline design. Participants showed improvements in correct responses on a structured form designed to capture skills involved in function-based assessment and intervention, as well as the fidelity of implementation of extinction and functional communication training. Moreover, participants rated the acceptability of training highly on measures of social validity. Guidelines for the education of parents and service providers in underresourced areas outside of the United States are discussed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s40617-020-00489-w) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users. Keywords: Cultural adaptations, Function-based treatment, India, Problem behavior, Training manual

Author Biography

Maithri Sivaraman, Tendrils Centre for Autism Research and Intervention, Chennai, India

Department of Experimental, Clinical and Health Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

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