A systematic review of acquisition and mastery of skills taught using the Picture Exchange Communication System.

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) is a popular augmentative and alternative communication intervention for individuals with developmental disabilities that includes six, sequential phases of instruction. We systematically reviewed published and unpublished single-case PECS studies for details about the percentage of participants mastering PECS phases, how long it took participants to master PECS phases (in trials to mastery), and what constituted mastery of PECS phases. We found most participants mastered only the first two phases of PECS, and Phases I, II, and IV showed the slowest and widest variability in trials to mastery.

Meta-Analytic Methods to Detect Publication Bias in Behavior Science Research.

Publication bias is an issue of great concern across a range of scientific fields. Although less documented in the behavior science fields, there is a need to explore viable methods for evaluating publication bias, in particular for studies based on single-case experimental design logic. Although publication bias is often detected by examining differences between meta-analytic effect sizes for published and grey studies, difficulties identifying the extent of grey studies within a particular research corpus present several challenges.

A Meta-Analysis of Video Modeling Interventions to Enhance Job Skills of Autistic Adolescents and Adults.

Background: Autistic transition-aged youth and young adults face many societal barriers to competitive integrated employment (CIE). Existing evidence-based practices (EBPs) for autistic individuals, such as video modeling (VM), may be a viable on-the-job training method to enhance employment experiences and outcomes for this population.

Methods: The purpose of this meta-analysis was to synthesize VM studies to teach job skills for autistic individuals.

Meta-analyses and effect sizes in applied behavior analysis: A review and discussion.

For more than four decades, researchers have used meta-analyses to synthesize data from multiple experimental studies often to draw conclusions that are not supported by individual studies. More recently, single-case experimental design (SCED) researchers have adopted meta-analysis techniques to answer research questions with data gleaned from SCED experiments. Meta-analyses enable researchers to answer questions regarding intervention efficacy, generality, and condition boundaries.

A Systematic Review of Linguistic and Verbal Behavior Outcomes of Pivotal Response Treatment.

Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) is a popular intervention for improving targeted and untargeted communication skills for learners with autism. We systematically reviewed communication outcomes reported in experimental research to determine linguistic forms and verbal behavior functions associated with PRT. We found most researchers aggregated results or did not report sufficient detail to determine linguistic forms and/or verbal behavior functions.

Endrew and FAPE: Concepts and Implications for All Students With Disabilities.

The opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States in the case has implications for the education of all students with disabilities. Implications for several categories of disability are discussed: those with autism spectrum disorder and those with disabilities often considered high incidence, particularly those placed for a significant portion of their school day in general education. The aspects of the most relevant to the case are also compared with Article 24 of the United Nations's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.