Pyramidal parent training using behavioral skills training: Training caregivers in the use of a differential reinforcement procedure

Six caregivers participated in a research study in which behavioral skills training (BST) was used within a pyramidal training model to train a differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior (DRA) procedure. Physical prompting was utilized to obtain correct responses across the identified alternative behavior. The caregivers were split into two tiers, comprised of three caregivers each. The experimenter trained tier-one caregivers, who then trained tier-two caregivers after meeting a predetermined mastery criterion. A multiple baseline design across participants research design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of correct implementation of the DRA procedure, demonstrating experimental control across participants. During baseline, caregivers did not implement DRA correctly. Following training, tier-one and tier-two caregivers demonstrated correct implementation of the DRA and prompting procedure. Intervention score was (M = 96%), from a baseline score of (M = 34.6%), for tier-one participants. Intervention score was (M = 96.6%), from a baseline score of (M = 33%), for tier-two participants. A follow-up maintenance probe demonstrated correct implementation of the DRA procedure with prompting across both tiers of trained caregivers.