Definition
Behavioural Skills Training (BST) is an evidence-based, multicomponent training method that applies modelling, instruction, rehearsal, and feedback to teach individuals a wide variety of behaviors or skills.
Historical Background
Although there is strong evidence that the use of BST emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it is unclear where the combined use of modelling, instruction, rehearsal, and feedback specifically originated. The main difficulty in finding the origin of BST stems from variations in the use of the BST term and its components in early research. For example, O’Connor (1972) taught 33 socially withdrawn children to engage in more social interactions through the use of video modelling and social reinforcement. In another study, Braukmann (1974) used instructions, modelling, practice, and feedback to teach adolescents interviewing skills. Despite these...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References and Readings
Braukmann, C. J., Fixsen, D. L., Phillips, E. L., Wolf, M. M., & Maloney, D. M. (1974). An analysis of a selection interview training package for predeunquents at achievement place. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 1, 30–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/009385487400100105.
Driftke, M. A., Tiger, J. H., & Wierzba, B. C. (2017). Using behavioral skills training to teach parents to implement three-step prompting: A component analysis and generalization assessment. Learning and Motivation, 57, 1–14. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.lmot.2016.12.001.
Gormley, L., Healy, O., Doherty, A., O’Regan, D., & Grey, I. (2019). Staff training in intellectual and developmental disability settings: A scoping review. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-019-09683-3.
Graudins, M. M., Rehfeldt, R. A., DeMattei, R., Baker, J. C., & Scaglia, F. (2012). Exploring the efficacy of behavioral skills training to teach basic behavior analytic techniques to oral care providers. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6, 978–987. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2011.12.010.
Gunby, K. V., & Rapp, J. T. (2014). The use of behavioral skills training and in situ feedback to protect children with autism from abduction lures. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 47, 856–860. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.173.
Houvouras, A. J., & Harvey, M. T. (2014). Establishing fire safety skills using behavioral skills training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 47, 420–424. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.113.
Kirkpatrick, M., Akers, J., & Rivera, G. (2019). Use of behavioral skills training with teachers: A systematic review. Journal of Behavioral Education, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-019-09322-z.
Kornack, L. T., Ringdahl, J. E., Sjostrom, A., & Neurnberger, J. E. (2013). A component analysis of a behavioral skills training package used to teach conversation skills to young adults with autism spectrum and other developmental disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7, 1370–1376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2013.07.012.
Lang, R., Davis, T., Ledbetter-Cho, K., McLay, L., Erhard, P., & Wicker, M. (2019). Psychological and educational approaches to the treatment of aggression and tantrums in people with intellectual disability. In J. L. Matson (Ed.), Handbook of intellectual disabilities: Integrating theory, research and practice. New York: Springer.
Leaf, J. B., Townley-Cochran, D., Taubman, M., Cihon, J. H., Oppenheim-Leaf, M. L., Kassardjian, A., et al. (2015). The teaching interaction procedure and behavioral skills training for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder: A review and commentary. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2, 402–413. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-015-0060-y.
Lerman, D. C., Hawkins, L., Hoffman, R., & Caccavale, M. (2013). Training adults with an autism spectrum disorder to conduct discrete-trial training for young children with autism: A pilot study. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46, 465–478. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.50.
McClintock, K., Hall, S., & Oliver, C. (2003). Risk markers associated with challenging behaviours in people with intellectual disabilities: A meta-analytic study. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 476, 405–416. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2788.2003.00517.x.
Miltenberger, R. G. (1997). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures. Belmont: Thomson Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.
Morgan, C. A., & Wine, B. (2018). Evaluation of behavior skills training for teaching work skills to a student with autism spectrum disorder. Education and Treatment of Children, 41, 223–232. https://doi.org/10.1353/etc.2018.0009.
O’Connor, R. D. (1972). Relative efficacy of modeling, shaping, and the combined procedures for medication of social withdrawal. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 79, 327–334.
Sarokoff, R. A., & Sturmey, P. (2004). The effects of behavioral skills training on staff implementation of discrete-trial teaching. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 37, 535–538. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2004.37-535.
Singh, B., Moore, D., Furlonger, B., Anderson, A., Busacca, M., & English, D. (2017). Teaching reading comprehension skills to a child with autism using behaviour skills training. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47, 3049–3958. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3229-7.
Thomas, B., Lafasakis, M., & Spector, V. (2016). Brief report: Using behavioral skills training to teach skateboarding skills to a child with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46, 3824–3829. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2900-8.
van der Meer, L., Matthews, T., Ogilvie, E., Berry, A., Waddington, H., Balandin, S., & Sigafoos, J. (2017). Training direct-care staff to provide communication intervention to adults with intellectual disability: A systematic review. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 26, 1279–1295. https://doi.org/10.1044/2017_AJSLP-16-0125.
Ward, H. J., & Sturmey, P. (2012). Component analysis of behavior skills training in functional analysis. Behavioral Interventions, 272, 75–92. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.1339.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2019 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature
About this entry
Cite this entry
Erhard, P., Falcomata, T.S., Harmon, T. (2019). Behavioral Skills Training. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102320-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102320-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6435-8
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences