Applied Behaviour Analysis RESEARCH AT nui gALWAY

                Ulrike Haritz - Graduation 2010

Research Streams

Students are conducting research under the supervision of staff members in a number of research streams. These can be summarised under the following headings:

• an investigation of evidence-based treatments and non-scientific practices in the treatment of autism spectrum disorder;
• behavioural procedures to increase socially significant behaviour;
• behavioural procedures to decrease and eliminate challenging behaviour;
• longitudinal investigations of the effectiveness of applied behaviour analysis in the education and treatment of children with developmental disorders;
• large scale Irish studies to inform policy makers in the area of service design and appropriate intervention;
• the use of bio-feedback mechanisms in the treatment of challenging behaviour
• assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior;
• evaluation of behavioural curricula to improve reading abilities
• validation of behavioural assessment tools;
• investigations of the co-variation of variables within developmental disabilities;
• comparison of treatment programmes for problem behaviours.

Students are assisted to design research that will make valuable contributions to the application of behaviour analysis. They conduct research that further advances an integrated, scientific understanding of the complexities of human behavior. Students are encouraged and assisted to publish their research in peer-reviewed international journals.

Dr. Gealdine Leader, Dr. Olive Healy, Maria McGarrell, Sarah Devlin, and Dr. Jennifer Holloway

  Graduation 2008

Student and Staff Publications

McTiernan, A., Leader, G. & Healy, O. (2011). Analysis of risk factors and early predictors of challenging behavior for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Brosnan, J., & Healy, O. (2011). A review of behavioral interventions for the treatment of aggression in individuals with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 

Duffy, C., & Healy, O. (2011). Spontaneous communication in autism spectrum disorder: A review of topographies and interventions. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Devlin, S., Healy, O., Leader, G. & Hughes, B.M.  (2010) Comparison of behavioral intervention and sensory-integration therapy in the treatment of challenging behavior.  Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Lydon, H., Healy , O., & Leader, G. (2010). A comparison of Video Modeling and Pivotal Response Training to teach pretend play skills to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders , (5), 872-884.

O’Connor A.B. & Healy, O. (2010). Long-term post-intensive behavioral intervention outcomes for five children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, (4), 594-604. 

Healy, O. & Leader, G. (2010). Assessment of Rituals and Stereotypy. In J. L. Matson, & P. Sturmey (Eds.), International handbook of autism and pervasive developmental disorders. New York: Springer.

McGarrell, M., Healy, O., Leader, G., O’ Connor, J., & Kenny, N. (2009). Six reports of children with autism spectrum disorder following intensive behavioural intervention using the Preschool Inventory of Repertoires for Kindergarten (PIRK®). Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders (in press).

Healy, O., Leader, G., & Reed, P. (2009). Applied Behavior Analysis and the Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the Republic of Ireland. In Leon V. Berhardt (Ed.)., Advances in Medicine and Biology. Volume 8. Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Murphy, O., Healy, O., & Leader, G., (2009). Risk factors for challenging behaviour for 157 children with autism spectrum disorder in Ireland. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 474-482.

Devlin, S., Leader, G., & Healy, O. (2009). Comparison of behavioral intervention and sensory-integration therapy in the treatment of self-injurious behaviour. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 223-231.

Grey I., Healy O., Leader, G., & Hayes, D (2009). Using a TIME TIMER® to increase appropriate waiting behavior in a child with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 30, 359-366.

Devlin, S., Healy, O., Leader, G., & Reed, P. (2008). The analysis and treatment of problem behaviour evoked by auditory stimulation. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders 2, 671-680

Lydon, H., Healy, O., Leader, G., & Keohane, D.D., (2008). The effects of intensive tact instruction on three verbal operants in non-instructional settings by two children with autism. Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysi, Special Issue, 35-46.

Healy, O., Leader, G., O’ Connor, J., & Kenny, N. (2008). Three years of intensive applied behavior analysis: A case study. Journal of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, 4-22.

Reed, P., Broomfield, L., McHugh, L., McCausland, A., & Leader, G. (2008). Extinction of over-selected stimuli causes emergence of under-selected cues in higher-functioning children with autistic spectrum disorders. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 39, (2), 290-8

Leader, G. & Healy, O., O’ Connor, J. (2008). Early intensive behavioural intervention in the treatment of autism. In P. Reed & Osborne, L. (Eds.) Behavioral Theories and Interventions for Autism. Arnold: London

Anna Newell and Cormc Duffy- Graduation 2010

 Students at Conference in NUIG 2010

Ita Forde, Anna Newell, Karen Talty and Cormac Duffy (Graduates 2010)

Articles In Preparation:

• Healy, O. & Leader, G. Decreasing delayed echolalia using a conditioned discriminative stimulus.
• Leader, G., Healy, O, & Condon, L. Improving oral reading: A brief experimental analysis of combining an antecedent intervention with consequences.
• Leader, G. & Healy, O., Comparing the effects of function-based treatments of problem behaviors designed from descriptive, experimental and informant-based assessments.
• Lydon, H., Healy, O, Leader, G., A comparison of video-modeling and pivotal response training to teach pretend play skills to children with autism spectrum disorder.
• Devlin, S., Healy, O., Leader, G. & Hughes, B. Comparison of behavioral intervention and sensory-integration therapy in the treatment of self-injurious behavior: Extended Findings.
• de Forge, E., Healy, O. & Leader, G. An evaluation of direct and indirect approaches to the assessment of preference and the effects of reinforcer choice for typically developing children.
• Hayes, D., Healy O., Leader, G. An examination of the relationships between social skills, psychiatric comoribity and challenging behavior in adults with moderate to severe learning disabilities.
• Farrell, J., Leader, G., Healy, O., & Murray, C. Repetitive behaviours in autism spectrum disorder and their relationship to IQ, severity of disorder and level of difficulties.
• McEvoy, N., Healy, O., & Leader, G. A Component Analysis of a DRO multi- component treatment package in six children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
• McEvoy, N., Healy, O., & Leader, G. A comparison of DRO and response cost procedures in the reduction of noncompliant behaviour.

Sarah Devlin, Joanne Farrell, Deirdre Hayes, Elaine Mellotte, Helena Lydon, Eithne Ni Longpuirt, Aisling McAusland, Niamh McCarthy, and Maria McGarrell celebrating their graduation in October 2008.

Conference Presentations by Students and Staff:

Students are given the opportunity to present their research projects/dissertations at the Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) and The Annual Conference of the PSI Division of Behaviour Analysis.   

40 th Annual Conference of the Psychological Society of Ireland, Athlone, November 13th, 2010

Pica: A Review of Behavioural Interventions.  Michelle Kelly, National University of Ireland, Galway

The Effects of Ageing and Cognitive Decline on Stimulus Overselectivity in Typically Developing Individuals. Michelle Kelly, Geraldine Leader and Olive Healy, National University of Ireland, Galway

Division of Behaviour Analysis Conference, National University of Ireland, Galway, June 25 th, 2010:

Pica: A Review. Michelle Kelly, National University of Ireland, Galway