Training Parents in Saudi Arabia: Assessing Learning from Doing and Learning from Seeing

Background: A considerable amount of attention has been given to parent training efforts in Applied Behavior Analysis. Still, much remains to be learned, including the extent to which common training protocols are effective with a diverse range of individuals and are viewed as socially valid in different cultural contexts

Objectives:  To evaluate the effectiveness of behavioral skills training and observational learning in parents training in Saudi Arabia

Methods: The present study trained six parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to implement the Natural Language Paradigm in Saudi Arabia. Three of the parents received training using a Behavioral Skills Training model involving instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. The other three parents observed the whole training procedure and then recieved behavioral skills training based on their performance post observation. The effect of training package on parent implementation was evaluated using multiple-probe design.

Results: All three of the participants who were taught using this protocol learned to implement the intervention effectively. As each parent was being trained individually, an additional parent observed the training (i.e., there were three observer-trainee dyads). While all of the parents learned from observing other parents being trained directly, only one observer parent met the predetermined performance criteria, with the other two reaching criteria after being trained directly. All six parents demonstrated maintenance of their skills at follow-up, and indicated that they enjoyed and training and learned a lot from it. Moreover, parents indicated that their child’s behavior improved at home, suggesting strong social validity

Conclusions: The behavioral skills training is effective in training parents. The observational learning has considerable effect in parent training , however it is not adequate enough in learning process.