Wilczynski Text Learning Assignment #1 Alexis Walsh SPCE 680-815 The first chapter that was selected was chapter one regarding systematic reviews. This chapter reflected on evidence based practice and what deems a treatment as effective and ready to use. Systematic reviews are least biased and utilized in the field of ABA primarily because the research is analytical, there have been very clear procedures developed when selecting which evidence to use, the process is clear cut and can be replicated, and personal decisions are not involved in the process. When conducting research for treatments, in my case ASD treatments, the researcher will ask, “Is this given treatment effective?” and “Are there any effective treatments for a given population?” The second question is appropriate to ask because if I am researching treatments for my client who is an eight year old male I will want to look at evidence that is catered more towards that client’s age group rather than older adults. When conducting a systematic review, researchers will focus on three things: quality, quantity, and consistency of outcomes. The quality of research outcomes is based on the design of the research, dependent variables, treatment fidelity, accuracy of the diagnosis, and generalization. The quantity of research outcomes is important because replication of a study or similar study provides the ability to reproduce similar results and are more credible. As a researcher, I cannot trust the results of a single study because there are many components that need to be considered. By using results from several studies, I can draw a conclusion to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. Systematic reviews are utilized to determine the effectiveness of treatments and as a future practitioner I will use evidence based practice to determine how I will approach a client’s course of treatment and this will allow for factual information and determining what is valid. The second chapter I chose to read was chapter five regarding client preferences. Preference assessments are used to identify objects or activities that have potential for being reinforcers for a client. As a Registered Behavior Technician, I conduct preference assessments when I am introduced to a new client or if current reinforcers are no longer working for a current client. Preference assessments allow the client to make decisions for themselves which fulfils ethical and legal obligations. My current clients function at a higher rate so when I conduct a preference assessment I typically give them several objects (multiple stimulus) or options and allow them to choose which reinforcer they are willing to work for. My clients are both six years old but this is not always the case. Infants or toddlers are not fully developed with speech so they cannot always tell what they want to utilize as reinforcement. When working with younger clients it is important to consider their skills sets and this can vary from client to client. Satiation is also an issue with younger clients because of their attention span and other developmental considerations need to be made. The example the book gives is when a child may not be attracted to a certain toy until another child approaches the toy and proceeds to play with it. As a practitioner, preference assessments are conducted differently based on the target client and their ability to choose reinforcement. Ultimately it comes down the power of choice. Everyone prefers to be given choices and same goes for target clients. I am more successful when I tell my client “you can choose this or this” rather than “after work you get this.” My client responds well to choices and that practice will continue as I grow as a practitioner. Contingency contracting is a term I was not familiar with prior to reading this chapter. Basically, this a document that displays a contingent relationship between completing a certain behavior and access to the reinforcement. There are three components to the contingency contract: description of the task (what the client will do), the reward, and the task record. As a behavior therapist, this is extremely important because it allows the client to understand that if they engage in a certain behavior or complete a certain task then they will be rewarded for it based on the reinforcement they have chosen through preference assessments.