Date of Award
8-2024
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Styleguide
apa
Degree Name
Applied Behavior Analysis: M.S.
Department
Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy
College
School of Health and Human Services
First Advisor
Odessa Luna
Second Advisor
Eunju Choi
Third Advisor
Stephen Walker
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
assent-based practice, applied behavior analysis, social validity
Abstract
Developing evidence-based methods to incorporate assent-based practice is vital to consider, especially as neurodivergent activists share concerns regarding behavioral services. To address these concerns, researchers and governing organizations are advocating for the adoption of assent-based practice in behavior analysis. Despite the growing popularity of assent-based practice, research lacks conceptually systematic and technologized procedures for measuring and analyzing assent. The current study aims to identify behaviors related to assent and assent withdrawal through a systematic process. This process included a caregiver interview, a free operant preference assessment, and a series of alternating test conditions with three participants with limited vocal repertoires. The results indicated participants withdrew assent for over half of the assessment intervals. In addition, participants engaged in behaviors related to assent more often than behaviors related to assent withdrawal. Implications of these findings and future research directions are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Dang, May, "Establishing Assent Topographies Through Assessment: A Preliminary Study" (2024). Culminating Projects in Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy. 116.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/cpcf_etds/116
Comments/Acknowledgements
I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to my thesis chair, Dr. Odessa Luna for the support, guidance, and kindness she provided me throughout this experience. Completing a thesis virtually can make it difficult to understand what resources are available, and I have felt so much support and compassion.
Thank you to my thesis committee for your invaluable feedback and guidance.
Thank you to all of the BCBAs who have guided me and given me such excellent examples of the practitioner I strive to grow into.