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Implementation of the Ebola response was credited with reducing incidence of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa; however little is known about the amount and kind of Ebola response activities that were ultimately successful in addressing the 2014 outbreak. We collaboratively monitored Ebola response activities and associated effects in Margibi County, Liberia, a rural county in Liberia deeply affected by the outbreak. We used a participatory monitoring and evaluation system, including key informant interviews and document review, to systematically document activities, code them, characterize their contextual features, and discover and communicate patterns in Ebola response activities to essential stakeholders. We also measured incidence of EVD over time. Results showed a distinct pattern in Ebola response activities and key events, which corresponded with subsequent decreased EVD incidence. These data are suggestive of the role of Ebola response activities played in reducing the incidence of EVD within Margibi County, which included implementing safe burials, social mobilization and community engagement and case management. Systematic monitoring and evaluation of response activities to control disease outbreaks holds lessons for implementing and evaluating similar comprehensive and multi-sectoral community health efforts.
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Servicios de Salud Comunitaria/organización & administración , Brotes de Enfermedades , Fiebre Hemorrágica Ebola/epidemiología , Vigilancia en Salud Pública , Manejo de Caso , Humanos , Entrevistas como Asunto , Liberia/epidemiología , Población RuralRESUMEN
Based on the conceptual, methodological, and analytical framework of operant behavioral economics, hypothetical purchase task (HPT) questionnaires provide a low cost, scalable, and quantitatively rich source of empirical insights on consumer motivation, preferences, and decision-making. Here, we briefly summarize the history of HPT development and validation in clinically oriented research in addiction through to recent work with more conventional consumer goods and services. We discuss several possible novel applications of HPT methods to consumer behavior analysis for business, marketing, and public policy formulation and evaluation, as well as emerging best practices, limitations, and additional directions for future research and development.
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This study evaluated how speech disfluencies affect perceived speaker effectiveness. Speeches with filler sounds and filler words at different rates of disfluencies (i.e., 0, 2, 5, and 12 per minute) were created and evaluated by a crowdsourcing service for survey-based research for the speaker's public speaking performance. Increased disfluencies, particularly filler sounds, significantly affected perceptions across most categories, notably at higher rates of filler sounds (i.e., 12 per minute). A low, but nonzero, rate of disfluencies (5 per minute) did not adversely affect perceived effectiveness. These findings suggest that although reducing filler sounds is crucial for optimizing perceived speaking effectiveness, a rate of five or fewer disfluencies per minute may be acceptable.
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Habla , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Percepción del Habla , Adulto , Fonética , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
This study evaluated the efficacy of (a) remote video-based behavioral skills training (BST) with added speech outlines on teaching public speaking behaviors and (b) remote video-based awareness training (AT) on speech-disfluency rates. A multiple-baseline design across speech behaviors was used to evaluate the training. Remote video-based BST and AT were effective at teaching public speaking behaviors and reducing speech disfluencies, respectively, for both participants. In addition, performance generalized to increased audience size. Although expert ratings of perceived public speaking effectiveness improved following BST, the ratings did not improve and some worsened following AT. Both participants reported satisfaction with video-based BST and AT. One participant reported greater comfort, confidence, overall ability, and less anxiety as a public speaker following BST. Both participants reported greater improvements in those categories following AT. Our results suggest that public speaking behaviors can be taught using remote video-based BST and speech disfluencies can be reduced using remote video-based AT.
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Ansiedad , Habla , HumanosRESUMEN
The field of behavior analysis has experienced marked growth in the number of credentialed professionals over the last decade. This growth may have implications for the quality of staff training, performance management, and supervision practices provided in human service settings. The purpose of this survey was to extend DiGennaro Reed and Henley (2015) by surveying credentialed and aspiring behavior analytic professionals on the staff training, performance management, and supervision practices available at their current place of employment. Three main differences were observed in relation to the findings of DiGennaro Reed and Henley. The current findings indicate notable changes in the demographic characteristics of survey respondents. In addition, we observed modest increases in the use of best practices for initial and ongoing training and performance management. Results also indicate several areas of concern regarding the provision of supervisory skills training. ⢠Results revealed improvements in the percentage of respondents who received initial or preservice training compared to DiGennaro Reed and Henley (2015). However, employers primarily rely on instructions and modeling to train their employees. ⢠Findings revealed greater reliance on asynchronous and synchronous online training modalities compared to DiGennaro Reed and Henley (2015). ⢠Results revealed a slight shift in the percentage of respondents who reported receiving ongoing training compared to DiGennaro Reed and Henley (2015). In the present study, BCaBAs and RBTs generally received ongoing training; however, fewer BCBAs reported receiving ongoing training. ⢠The reported use of performance management practices improved compared to DiGennaro Reed and Henley (2015). That is, a higher percentage of respondents reported being observed at work while carrying out their job responsibilities. ⢠Of the respondents who supervise staff, less than half of them reported receiving supervisory skills training. And only half of those respondents reported that their training prepared them to supervise others.
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The quality and frequency of positive interactions between staff and consumers are related to reductions in consumer problem behavior and increases in other desired outcomes, such as leisure and self-help skills. Unfortunately, the frequency with which group home staff positively interact with consumers is often low and regularly requires intervention. We evaluated the effects of technology-based self-monitoring on positive interactions between staff and consumers during consumer leisure time. Participant data were collected off-site through video recordings from cameras already present in the group homes. During baseline, participant interactions were low. Upon introduction of an intervention containing self-monitoring completed via a tablet device, staff interactions increased and maintained when the intervention was in effect. Supplemental feedback via text message was provided to two of the three participants to reach criterion. These findings demonstrate the utility of technology-based self-monitoring for some individuals to increase positive staff-consumer interactions in group homes.
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Sedentary behavior is an emerging public health issue. Frequent, brief bouts of walking are recommended by experts to reduce the health risks correlated with physical inactivity and prolonged sedentary periods. The purpose of the current study was to extend the literature by evaluating a remote, technology-based contingency management (CM) intervention that reinforced frequent, brief bouts of walking to decrease prolonged periods of sitting during the workday. A packaged intervention consisting of a contingency contract, monetary incentives, goal setting, textual prompts, and performance feedback was implemented with individuals with sedentary job responsibilities working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The intervention increased the number of physically active intervals to mastery for 4 participants, thereby disrupting prolonged periods of sedentary time. For 2 participants, the intervention did not meaningfully increase the number of physically active intervals. Results suggest that a remote, digital CM intervention can decrease sedentary behavior in home office environments.
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COVID-19 , Lugar de Trabajo , COVID-19/prevención & control , Humanos , Pandemias/prevención & control , Tecnología , CaminataRESUMEN
This study evaluated the efficacy of remote video-based behavioral skills training (BST) on teaching public speaking behaviors to 4 participants. A multiple-baseline design across speech behaviors was used to evaluate the effects of the training. Remote video-based BST was effective at increasing public speaking behaviors for all participants. In addition, performance generalized to an increased audience size. An external expert in communications rated the participants as more effective public speakers following training. All participants reported satisfaction with the training and expressed greater comfort, confidence, overall ability, and less anxiety as a public speaker following training. We also measured potential collateral effects of teaching public speaking behaviors on speech disfluencies. Although remote video-based BST was effective for all participants, it did not produce a change in the rate of speech disfluencies. Our findings indicate that public speaking behaviors can be taught using a remote video-based BST package.
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Ansiedad , Habla , HumanosRESUMEN
The current study evaluated the efficacy of a video-based training to teach 4 staff working in a human service setting to use behavioral skills training (BST) to teach job-related skills to others. Low levels of BST integrity were observed during baseline. Immediately after viewing a 13-min training video, 2 participants implemented BST at mastery (i.e., 100% integrity). The remaining 2 participants required brief supplemental performance feedback to reach criterion performance. The effects of the training generalized to training 2 novel skills and maintained in follow-up probes conducted 1 to 4 weeks posttraining. A social validity measure indicated high levels of satisfaction with the video-based training and high acceptability of BST. Implications of these findings for organizational training practices and directions for future research are discussed.
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Satisfacción Personal , Retroalimentación , HumanosRESUMEN
This brief review summarizes recent research on technology-based antecedent staff training procedures, highlights key methodological components, and concludes with potential directions for future research.
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Tecnología , HumanosRESUMEN
Telehealth uses electronic information and telecommunication technologies to deliver long-distance clinical services. It has successfully been used by clinical professionals to teach family and staff members to provide evidence-based assessment and treatment procedures. There is no research to date, however, evaluating the use of telehealth to directly teach individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Thus, we evaluated the efficacy of a telehealth intervention using total task chaining with least-to-most prompting delivered via videoconference to 2 adults with IDD. Both participants demonstrated low independent responding during baseline with enhanced written instructions present. During intervention, which included vocal and model prompting, both participants met the mastery criterion for each skill in fewer than 15 sessions, which maintained after 2 weeks. Finally, both participants expressed satisfaction with the goals, procedures, and effects of the intervention. We discuss the broader scope of the intervention for individuals with disabilities when face-to-face services may not be feasible.
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Actividades Cotidianas , Discapacidades del Desarrollo/psicología , Discapacidad Intelectual/psicología , Educación del Paciente como Asunto , Telemedicina , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Satisfacción PersonalRESUMEN
Organizational settings are replete with changing stimulus contexts and contingencies, which makes relapse a particularly relevant framework for understanding the ways in which controlling stimuli influence employee responding. The purpose of the current study was to develop a translational model to assess renewal of desirable behavior in a simulated workplace with neurotypical adults. Experiment 1 assessed renewal of desirable behavior using a computerized check processing task. Experiment 2 extended the findings and the translational utility of the experimental arrangement to implementation of a behavior-analytic teaching procedure. Results across both experiments demonstrated renewal of desirable behavior. Overall, the current methodology and findings extend the human operant literature on renewal and demonstrate a translational model that brings together operant renewal and organizational behavior management.
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Condicionamiento Operante , Modelos Psicológicos , Lugar de Trabajo/psicología , Adolescente , Extinción Psicológica , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Refuerzo en Psicología , Investigación Biomédica Traslacional , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
This experiment used a pyramidal training model to evaluate the effects of behavioral skills training (BST), delivered in a 1-time group-training format, on the extent to which 25 human service staff implemented BST when training others how to implement behavioral procedures. Results indicated that (a) the training workshop increased BST integrity to mastery levels for the majority of participants with varying levels of education, organizational positions, and training experience, (b) the training effects generalized to teaching an untrained skill, and (c) high levels of BST integrity maintained at follow-up 4 to 6 weeks after training for all 3 participants with whom probes were conducted. Moreover, participants indicated high levels of satisfaction with both the training workshop and BST as a training procedure.
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Capacitación en Servicio , Formación del Profesorado , Adulto , Femenino , Procesos de Grupo , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Satisfacción Personal , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Privacy has been identified as a primary concern among stakeholders (i.e., service recipients, advocates, administrators, family) when using technology to provide residential services to individuals in need. This paper summarizes a study that distributed a survey to agencies that provide services (e.g., clinical, recreational) and resources (e.g., advocacy groups) to people with various types of disabilities (e.g., physical, sensory, intellectual, developmental) across the United States. The results led to several recommendations about how smart-home service providers can use technology in a way that promotes client privacy. In addition, we make several suggestions for how remote staff (i.e., individuals monitoring the information gathered by technology) can assist in the process of ensuring client privacy.
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We assessed and reduced the tardiness of 4 direct-care staff employed at a school that provides educational services to children with autism. The Performance Diagnostic Checklist - Human Services was administered to participants and their supervisors to identify one or more indicated interventions. Relative to baseline, tardiness was lower during intervention. The most effective intervention included task clarification, a problem-solving discussion, tokens exchangeable for back-up reinforcers, and weekly graphic feedback. Moreover, participants reported that the intervention components, particularly praise and a token, had high acceptability.
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Personal Docente , Empleo , Lugar de Trabajo , Adulto , Terapia Conductista , Lista de Verificación , Femenino , Humanos , Administración del Tiempo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
The science of behavior has effectively addressed many areas of social importance, including the performance management of staff working in human-service settings. Evidence-based performance management entails initial preservice training and ongoing staff support. Initial training reflects a critical first training component and is necessary for staff to work independently within an organization. However, investment in staff must not end once preservice training is complete. Ongoing staff support should follow preservice training and involves continued coaching and feedback. The purpose of this article is to bridge the research-to-practice gap by outlining research-supported initial training and ongoing staff support procedures within human-serving settings, presenting practice guidelines, and sharing information about easy-to-implement ways practitioners may stay abreast of current research.
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Recent research suggests that presenting time intervals as units (e.g., days) or as specific dates, can modulate the degree to which humans discount delayed outcomes. Another framing effect involves explicitly stating that choosing a smaller-sooner reward is mutually exclusive to receiving a larger-later reward, thus presenting choices as an extended sequence. In Experiment 1, participants (N = 201) recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk completed the Monetary Choice Questionnaire in a 2 (delay framing) by 2 (zero framing) design. Regression suggested a main effect of delay, but not zero, framing after accounting for other demographic variables and manipulations. We observed a rate-dependent effect for the date-framing group, such that those with initially steep discounting exhibited greater sensitivity to the manipulation than those with initially shallow discounting. Subsequent analyses suggest these effects cannot be explained by regression to the mean. Experiment 2 addressed the possibility that the null effect of zero framing was due to within-subject exposure to the hidden- and explicit-zero conditions. A new Amazon Mechanical Turk sample completed the Monetary Choice Questionnaire in either hidden- or explicit-zero formats. Analyses revealed a main effect of reward magnitude, but not zero framing, suggesting potential limitations to the generality of the hidden-zero effect.
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Descuento por Demora , Adulto , Conducta de Elección , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Probabilidad , Recompensa , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
This study evaluated the effects of four instructional variants on instruction following under changing reinforcement schedules using an operant task based on Hackenberg and Joker's Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 62, 367-383 (1994) experimental preparation. Sixteen college-aged adults served as participants and were randomly assigned to one of four instruction conditions (directive, generic, non-directive, and control). Results suggest textual verbal behavior modulated instruction following. Specifically, directive and generic instructions produced greater levels of instructional control and relatively lower levels of schedule control compared to non-directive instructions. Thus, participants in the directive and generic groups responded in accordance with the instructions even when schedules of reinforcement favored deviation from the instructed pattern. In contrast, participants in the non-directive group responded toward the optimal pattern. In the control condition, participant responding was variable but toward the optimal pattern. Findings are interpreted within the framework of Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior and formulation of rule governance.
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Incentives are a popular method to achieve desired employee performance; however, research on optimal incentive magnitude is lacking. Behavioral economic demand curves model persistence of responding in the face of increasing cost and may be suitable to examine the reinforcing value of incentives on work performance. The present use-inspired basic study integrated an experiential human operant task within a crowdsourcing platform to evaluate the applicability of behavioral economics for quantifying changes in workforce attrition. Participants included 88 Amazon Mechanical Turk Workers who earned either a $0.05 or $0.10 incentive for completing a progressively increasing response requirement. Analyses revealed statistically significant differences in breakpoint between the two groups. Additionally, a novel translation of the Kaplan-Meier survival-curve analyses for use within a demand curve framework allowed for examination of elasticity of workforce attrition. Results indicate greater inelastic attrition in the $0.05 group. We discuss the benefits of a behavioral economic approach to modeling employee behavior, how the metrics obtained from the elasticity of workforce attrition analyses (e.g., P max ) may be used to set goals for employee behavior while balancing organizational costs, and how economy type may have influenced observed outcomes.