Teaching Equivalence Relations through Drawing using the PEAK-E Curriculum

Author

Hailey Elizabeth Williams, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

8-1-2016

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Behavior Analysis and Therapy

First Advisor

Dixon, Mark

Second Advisor

Belisle, Jordan

Abstract

AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Hailey Williams, for the Master’s Degree in Behavior Analysis, presented on 7/8/16, at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. TITLE: TEACHING EQUIVALENCE RELATIONS THROUGH DRAWING USING THE PEAK-E CURRICULUM MAJOR PROFESSOR: Dr. Mark R. Dixon The purpose of this study was to observe the formation of equivalence response classes using drawing to demonstrate the transformation of stimulus function from arbitrary textual words to simple drawings. Two children with Autism were taught directly trained relations, which paired together three stimuli from three separate class formations. The children were taught to relate A-B and B-C relations in trial blocks, and then tested with B-A and C-A relations. This train-test method was used to see if derived relations had emerged. Both participants demonstrated adequate learning in achieve mastery criteria in all the directly trained and derived relations from this study. The data is represented in a multiple baseline graph with an embedded multiple probe design. The outcome of this study indicates that the use of drawing and other creative behaviors have value in both relation frame theory and PEAK. There are also several implications of the study addressed here, including drawing as a verbal behavior and the role of internal events and covert behaviors in learning.