Association for Behavior Analysis International

Decades of research and clinical service delivery support the use of treatments based on applied behavior analysis to decrease challenging behavior (e.g., aggression, disruptive behavior, self-injury) and teach skills (e.g., social, academic, verbal behavior). Although highly efficacious, behavioral treatment can be time- and resource-intensive. Technology is one way to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The presentations in this symposium will focus on using technology to augment, improve, or maintain treatment outcomes in behavioral treatment. The first presentation will describe the use of an artificial intelligence notetaker to increase efficiency and accuracy of clinicians’ treatment notes. The second presentation will discuss research on using virtual reality in parent and staff training. The third presentation will explore gamification of behavioral interventions. Finally, the fourth presentation will compare outcomes of a digital parent training tool to treatment by a clinician. Collectively, these presentations cover various ways to incorporate technologies into behavioral service delivery.

The target audience is BCBAs, BCaBAs, or students training to become BCBAs. Audience members should broadly understand the principles of ABA and basic approaches to assessment and treatment.

LeBlanc and colleagues (2019) note that inefficiency in managing caseloads can have significant adverse impacts on the quality of services, development of therapeutic relationships, and agency finances. Tools that increase fluency and efficiency are important to the effective work of behavior analysts. This study investigates the use of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Notetaker by students studying Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). A pilot participant summarized two brief simulated parent interviews, once with and once without the AI Notetaker. The participant strongly endorsed the AI Notetaker in that it allowed for easier and more efficient task completion (~20 min time savings). Next, we will conduct a multiple-baseline-across-participants design; data will be collected on duration of task completion, quality of work (as assessed by a rubric), and social validity. Although current data are limited to one participant, our findings are promising; data from the multiple-baseline study will be presented at the conference. Additionally, presenters will share promising applications of the AI Notetaker to mealtime interventions. Its usefulness will be considered in the context of the complex qualitative information gathered during caretaker interviews and how this might help assessment of past and present narratives that shape caregivers’ feeding experiences and subsequent interventions.

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the gamification of interventions—particularly through video games—represents an exciting yet underexplored frontier. Over the past two years, Simcoach Games, a leader in transformational game development, has partnered with behavior analysts to integrate evidence-based practices into the game design process. This collaboration merges expertise from both fields, resulting in video games grounded in well-established ABA interventions, assessments, and research-based strategies. This presentation will showcase the step-by-step process of translating applied behavior analytic literature into engaging, transformative games. Through live video demonstrations, we will highlight the effectiveness of using technology to enhance skill acquisition and streamline behavioral assessments. The presentation will also explore data produced by learner behavior within these games, illustrating how gamified interventions offer not only educational engagement but also rich, actionable data for clinicians. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how these digital tools can be employed in clinical and educational settings, delivering data-driven, interactive experiences that enrich both the teaching process and learner outcomes. This integration of technology and ABA interventions promises to drive innovation and enhance the effectiveness of behavior analysis for practitioners and clients alike.