Doctor of Philosophy

dissertationThe current study evaluated the efficacy of a parent-training program, Play Your Way to Compliance, to increase compliance rates of young children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Play Your Way to Compliance is an evidence-based intervention package with an errorless learning approach designed to teach behavior management skills to parents to increase child compliance. The study involved four 6-year-old males with ASD and their mothers. A noncurrent multiple-baseline, multiple-probe design was used to evaluate the intervention package. Dependent variables included compliance rates, parent fidelity, externalizing problems, parenting stress, and consumer satisfaction. Results showed significant increases in compliance rates for each of the participants. At baseline, the mean compliance rate across all participants was 28.9%. During intervention, the participants’ mean compliance rate increased 90.8%. Follow-up at 3 weeks after intervention showed that participants maintained gains in compliance. Play Your Way to Compliance includes all of the materials necessary to effectively implement research-based interventions in one package. The program represents an effective and viable method for caregivers to increase compliance in young children