Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.S.
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
Degree Granting Department
Child and Family Studies
Major Professor
Kimberly Crosland, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Committee Member
Raymond Miltenberger, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Committee Member
Sarah Bloom, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Committee Member
Arturo Garcia, M.S., BCBA
Keywords
behavior-specific praise, text message prompts, social interactions, reactivity, behavior support staff, residential care
Abstract
Behavior-specific praise (BSP) has been widely evaluated in school settings as an intervention to improve social interactions between teachers and students. However, minimal studies have evaluated the use of BSP outside of school settings. One area BSP might help improve is staff and client interactions in group home settings for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The current study evaluated the effectiveness of text message prompts for increasing staff-delivered BSP to improve the frequency of social interactions between staff and consumers in a group home setting. In addition, this study evaluated staff use of BSP when they received text prompts during times when they were unaware they were being observed. Three direct service providers (DSPs) participated in this study. Data were evaluated using a nonconcurrent multiple baseline across participants design. Results indicate that behavioral skills training (BST) and text message prompts increased the use of BSP for all three staff participants when observers were present. When observers were absent, BSP returned to baseline levels for two participants and became variable for the third participant.
Scholar Commons Citation
Hernandez-Bautista, Melissa, "Evaluating the Use of Text Message Prompts to Increase Staff Behavior-Specific Praise in Adult Residential Care" (2024). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/10631
