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Abstract
The success and maintenance of intervention effects for reduction of behaviors exhibited by children on the autism spectrum depends on the integrity with which intervention plans are implemented. Previous research has shown that context changes (e.g., new environments) may lead to renewal of caregiver integrity errors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate how the presence of a second child affects caregiver treatment integrity. Using a translational approach, participants underwent three phases. In Phase 1, caregivers were given no instructions on how to respond to confederate disruptive behavior. In Phase 2 caregivers implemented functional communication training (FCT) with the confederate. In Phase 3, participants continued to implement FCT while simultaneously caring for a crying babydoll, simulating another child being present. A reversal was conducted if participants showed persisting high rates of integrity errors during the treatment adherence challenge. Caregiver integrity errors did not increase during the treatment adherence challenge.