The Importance of Mediator Training in Applied Behavior Analysis

Abstract

The mediator training is an important procedure of the applied behavior analysis. By providing an appropriate training to the mediator, the trainer can enhance the likelihood that the trainee will implement the intervention plan accurately. The purpose of this study was to operate mediator training to an instructor therapist to implement mand training to a 5-year old girl with autism spectrum disorder. Through this study we had to follow all the necessary steps of the mediator training and to collect data, through the behavior fidelity checklist and the staff satisfaction survey. The results demonstrated that the mediator implemented the steps accurately and she was also satisfied from the overall training that she received. Moreover, the interobserver agreement for the treatment fidelity, between the comparison of trainers and trainee’s checklist, demonstrated exact agreement of the implementation of the intervention.