The Effectiveness of Applied Behavior Analytic Interventions for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analytic Study
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Makrygianni, M. K., Gena, A., et al. (2018).
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 51, 18-31.
This meta-analysis investigates the effectiveness of applied behavioral analysis (ABA) principles and teaching techniques on a variety of outcomes including cognition, receptive and expressive language, and socialization in children on the autism spectrum.
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece)
January 1987 to October 2017
Randomized controlled trials; quasi-randomized trials
29
Based on data from 21 studies, behavioral interventions were "very effective (g = 0.740, SE = 0.095, 95% CI: 0.554-0.927) in improving children’s intellectual abilities between pre-treatment and post-treatment [verbal IQ] assessments" (p. 25). Data from ten studies indicated that applied behavior analysis (ABA) programs were moderately effective (g = 0.463, SE = 0.129, 95% CI: 0.211-0.715) for improving non-verbal IQ scores.
The effect of applied behavior analysis (ABA) on "both expressive and receptive language is based on data from 7 studies which indicate that ABA programs are moderately to very effective in improving expressive language (g = 0.742, SE = 0.236, 95% CI: 0.280-1.205) and moderately effective in improving receptive language (g = 0.597, SE = 0.182, 95% CI: 0.240-0.955).... Those results should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of studies that they were drawn from" (pp. 26-27).
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) programs were moderately effective (g = 0.444, SE = 0.085, 95% CI: 0.278-0.611) in improving socialization skills in children on the autism spectrum.
