For many children, adults, and even animals, imitation is a natural process of learning new behaviors. However, not all people have the ability to imitate behaviors or may require the use of models for imitation training. Practitioners must know which models to use for training and understand the guidelines for imitation training.
For this Assignment, you will determine the steps to use in creating an imitation training program.
To Prepare
Consider the following scenario:
Josh is an 8-year-old child with autism (ASD) who has limited verbal skills. Specifically, he does not say “hi” or “hello” when greeted by another person using a similar salutation. What steps would you use in the development of an imitation training program for Josh?
Assignment (1–2 pages):
- Develop an imitation training program. In your training program, include all the appropriate steps necessary to implement an effective program.
Be sure to support your Assignment with specific references to behavior-analytic theory and research. In addition to the Learning Resources, search the Walden Library and/or the internet for peer-reviewed articles to support your Assignment. Use proper APA format and citations, including those in the Learning Resources.
Resources
- Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.
- Chapter 21, “Imitation, Modeling, and Observational Learning” (pp. 527–539)
- Vivanti, G., & Hamilton, A. (2014). Imitation in autism spectrum disorders.Links to an external site. In F. R. Volkmar, S. J. Rogers, R. Paul, & K. A. Pelphrey (Eds.), Handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders: Diagnosis, development, and brain mechanisms (pp. 278–301). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley