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Developing Behavioral Fluency with Movement Cycles Using SAFMEDS

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Abstract

The Precision Teaching term “movement cycle” refers to a behavior with a clearly observable movement and a distinct beginning and end. The present experiment examined whether behavior analysts and special education teachers could become fluent identifying movement cycles. A frequency-building intervention called SAFMEDS, an acronym for Say All Fast Minute Every Day Shuffled, required participants to see a picture of behavior on a laminated card and say the movement cycle. A multiple baseline multiple probe design with two groups of four participants revealed the effects of the intervention. Results showed a replication of effects with each group using equivalent SAFMEDS decks. The SAFMEDS intervention produced behavioral fluency and also fostered strong maintenance effects for a majority of the participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Special Education Program, The Pennsylvania State University, 209 CEDAR Building, University Park, PA, 16802-3109, USA

    Richard M. Kubina Jr.

  2. The Vista School, Hershey, PA, USA

    Kirsten K. L. Yurich & Nora M. Healy

  3. The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA

    Krina C. Durica

Authors
  1. Richard M. Kubina Jr.
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  2. Kirsten K. L. Yurich
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  3. Krina C. Durica
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  4. Nora M. Healy
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Correspondence to Richard M. Kubina Jr..

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Kubina, R.M., Yurich, K.K.L., Durica, K.C. et al. Developing Behavioral Fluency with Movement Cycles Using SAFMEDS. J Behav Educ 25, 120–141 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-015-9232-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-015-9232-1

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