Training Behavior Analysis Graduate Students to Work with an Interpreter

This recorded Special Learning Journal Club features Sarah A. Lechago discussing how behavior analysis graduate students were trained to collaborate with interpreters serving Spanish-speaking caregivers. Hosted by Maria Nicolaou, it examines five communication behaviors, behavioral skills training, caregiver feedback, and English-Spanish instructional sequencing.

Presenter: Sarah A. Lechago. Host: Maria Nicolaou.

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BACB CEUs: 1 General 

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Lechago described a study with graduate therapists who had minimal Spanish proficiency. Its five target behaviors were positioning the interpreter beside the caregiver, using nontechnical language, keeping sentences short, speaking directly to the caregiver, and repeating or clarifying when needed. Training combined instructions with operational definitions, video models, rehearsal, and feedback.

The session examined caregiver comprehension questionnaires alongside therapist performance and satisfaction surveys. She reported that performance reached the study's mastery criterion and was maintained in post-training probes. Caregiver satisfaction was identical before and after training; she discussed possible reluctance to rate a service provider negatively. The study used hypothetical service scenarios and graduate-student interpreters without formal interpreter training.

The second half compared Spanish-first, English-first, and mixed instruction for picture selection, and previewed bilingual research still in early data collection without results to report. Lechago discussed familial language in relation to family participation and cultural identity.

What does this recording cover?

• The study's five behaviors for interpreter collaboration
• Behavioral skills training through instructions, video models, rehearsal, and feedback
• Caregiver comprehension questionnaires and satisfaction findings
• Study limitations: hypothetical scenarios and interpreters without formal training
• English-Spanish instructional sequencing and the ongoing bilingual study preview

Recording context: The bilingual study preview describes early data collection and methods, with no results presented.

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