{"title":"Improved Soft-Skill Competencies of ABA Professionals Following Training and Coaching: A Feasibility Study","authors":"","doi":"10.1007/s42822-024-00156-7","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3>Abstract</h3> <p>The field of applied behavior analysis currently faces critique regarding the need for increased compassion and interprofessional collaboration training toward culturally and emotionally responsive practice. Mindful self-compassion is evidenced to improve self-compassion and compassion. The purpose of the current study was to improve soft-skill competencies in collaboration and compassion of behavior analytic professionals. In this feasibility study, two cohorts of American behavior analytic professionals (<em>N</em> = 24) received a 4-month training-and-coaching sequence, with a pre-program focus group serving as the program’s needs assessment. The Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey and Self-Compassion Scale, Short Form were administered pre- and post-intervention to ascertain program effectiveness, alongside open-ended survey questions. Training included experiential learning opportunities in small groups, with participants practicing self-compassion and collaboration skills. Coaching included additional individual practice opportunities. Pre- and post-whole test scores were significantly different on both instruments, with <em>p</em> set at .05, demonstrating preliminary effectiveness. Significance on paired-sample <em>t-</em>test for the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey whole score fell at <.001, while for the Self-Compassion Scale, Short Form, it fell at .004. While prior studies have demonstrated the need for collaboration and compassion training within the ABA workforce, the current study reports on an implementation procedure to <em>improve</em> upon these skill sets, addressing a noted gap. Furthermore, the current study operationalizes collaboration alongside self-compassion, demonstrating the importance of centering collaborative practice within soft-skill awareness and competency. Future research can incorporate direct measures of these skill sets.</p>","PeriodicalId":44553,"journal":{"name":"Behavior and Social Issues","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6000,"publicationDate":"2024-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Behavior and Social Issues","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-024-00156-7","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The field of applied behavior analysis currently faces critique regarding the need for increased compassion and interprofessional collaboration training toward culturally and emotionally responsive practice. Mindful self-compassion is evidenced to improve self-compassion and compassion. The purpose of the current study was to improve soft-skill competencies in collaboration and compassion of behavior analytic professionals. In this feasibility study, two cohorts of American behavior analytic professionals (N = 24) received a 4-month training-and-coaching sequence, with a pre-program focus group serving as the program’s needs assessment. The Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey and Self-Compassion Scale, Short Form were administered pre- and post-intervention to ascertain program effectiveness, alongside open-ended survey questions. Training included experiential learning opportunities in small groups, with participants practicing self-compassion and collaboration skills. Coaching included additional individual practice opportunities. Pre- and post-whole test scores were significantly different on both instruments, with p set at .05, demonstrating preliminary effectiveness. Significance on paired-sample t-test for the Interprofessional Collaborative Competency Attainment Survey whole score fell at <.001, while for the Self-Compassion Scale, Short Form, it fell at .004. While prior studies have demonstrated the need for collaboration and compassion training within the ABA workforce, the current study reports on an implementation procedure to improve upon these skill sets, addressing a noted gap. Furthermore, the current study operationalizes collaboration alongside self-compassion, demonstrating the importance of centering collaborative practice within soft-skill awareness and competency. Future research can incorporate direct measures of these skill sets.
期刊介绍:
The primary intellectual framework for Behavior and Social Issues is the science of behavior analysis and its sub-discipline of cultural systems analysis, but contributions from contrasting viewpoints will occasionally be considered if of specific interest to behavior analysts. We recommend that potential authors examine recent issues to determine whether their work is appropriate to the journal. Appropriate contributions include theoretical and conceptual analyses, research articles and brief reports, dialogues, and research reviews. Behavior and Social Issues is an appropriate forum for the work of senior scholars in the field, many of whom serve on the editorial board, as well as for the work of emerging scholars, including students, who have an interest in the contributions of a natural science of behavior to constructing cultures of social justice, human rights, and environmental sustainability.