Fidelity and Effectiveness of PRT Implemented by Caregivers Without College Degrees

Abstract

Pivotal Response Training (PRT) combines research on task interspersal, direct reinforcement, and role of choice in a treatment for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Parents of children with ASD have been trained to implement PRT to improve language and social interaction. Variables other than child characteristics, such as parental income and education level, may influence training and child outcomes. The authors investigated one of those variables, parental education level, by examining the fidelity and effectiveness of PRT implementation among three caregivers without college degrees. A concurrent multiple baseline design across all phases was used. Two of the three caregiver–child dyads benefited from the intervention. Caregivers’ level of education may not be as critical as other variables, such as consistency of training sessions and other family dynamics, for successful implementation of PRT.