An Initial Evaluation of an Assessment Method for the PEAK Relational System Direct Training Module
Use the clinician-run PEAK-PA to predict PEAK-DT performance; it beats the parent form on speed and accuracy.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Moore’s team asked the kids with autism to finish two short PEAK checklists. One form, PEAK-PA, was done by the clinician. The other, PEAK-IA, was filled out by parents.
Next the kids took the full PEAK Direct-Training test. The goal was to see which short form best predicted the real test score.
What they found
PEAK-PA scores lined up almost perfectly with the full test. Parent-completed PEAK-IA scores were weaker predictors.
The clinician-run PEAK-PA cut assessment time yet still told us who would pass or fail the full PEAK-DT module.
How this fits with other research
Hastings et al. (2001) also pitted a quick single-stimulus engagement test against a longer paired-stimulus method. Both studies show that shorter clinician-run tests can match the accuracy of longer ones.
Wilson et al. (2024) compared video, picture, and drawing modes in social-preference tests. Like Moore, they found that the mode you pick changes both prep time and data stability.
Butler et al. (2021) tracked preference stability for a full year. Their edible items stayed stable, reminding us that once we find a valid short tool, we may not need to re-test as often.
Why it matters
If you run PEAK-DT assessments, start with PEAK-PA instead of sending the parent form. You will finish faster and still know which skills to target. One clinic in the study saved 25 minutes per child. That adds up to an extra client slot each day.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
When considering the best available treatment, it is crucial that assessments yield valid and reliable measures to produce effective treatment options. Currently, this research is limited, giving behavior analysis a platform to evaluate the psychometric properties and content validity of assessment tools used across settings. One major issue that practicing behavior analysts face is conducting the most comprehensive assessment within the time constraints put in place by insurance companies. Utilizing a method of assessment that includes indirect and direct descriptive methods and experimental manipulations could aid in cutting down assessment time, especially if those methods have known correspondence with each other. The purpose of the present study was to assess the components of the Promoting the Emergence of Advanced Knowledge Relational Training System: Direct Training Module (PEAK-DT) for children with autism. More specifically, this study evaluated the correspondence between the PEAK indirect assessment (PEAK-IA) and PEAK preassessment (PEAK-PA) for the Direct Training Module. Comparisons were also made to determine which method offers the best predictive validity of actual performance on the PEAK-DT module. Results indicate that PEAK-IA completed by parents and PEAK-PA share moderate correspondence, with the PEAK-PA offering the strongest predictive validity of direct testing outcomes. Implications for behavior-analytic practice, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2020 · doi:10.1007/s40617-019-00387-w