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| An Evaluation of the Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab as a Training Tool for Registered Behavior Technicians |
| Monday, May 26, 2025 |
| 9:00 AM–9:20 AM |
| Convention Center, Street Level, 145 B |
| Area: EDC |
| Instruction Level: Basic |
| CE Instructor: Salvador Ruiz, Ph.D. |
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| An Evaluation of the Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab as a Training Tool for Registered Behavior Technicians |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| SALVADOR RUIZ (Hunter College, CUNY), Alan Kinsella (The Manhattan Childrens Center; Endicott College), Sabrina Yee (Hunter College, CUNY) |
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| Abstract: The Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab (PORTL) is a tabletop game that mimics an experimental lab popularized by BF Skinner in the 1930s (Goodhue et al., 2019). The game provides a practical, informative, and fun way to experience teaching those with diverse needs (Rosales-Ruiz & Hunter, 2016). The present study examined the effects of PORTL as a training tool for RBTs across five different practice areas. A total of seven RBTS participated in the study. Sessions were conducted weekly during staff meeting time for 2 hours. Results indicate an increase in the fidelity of procedural implementation of reinforcement, differential reinforcement, shaping, chaining, and antecedent presentation. Further, social validity reports indicate that participants prefer PORTL training to lecture based guest speaking professional development. The results suggest that PORTL may be a cost-effective alternative to produce tangible staff training outcomes. However, PORTL may be difficult to scale with larger organizations and those that only provide home-based services. |
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| Target Audience: The target audience would be behavior analysts who are responsible for staff training, school administration that is responsible for professional development, and ABA agency directors who have to develop staff training protocols. |
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