POWR Project Coding Process

Presenter(s)

Carolyn Lignell, Anna Rousseau

Abstract or Description

Children with complex communication needs (CCN) are those who have developmental disabilities and have limited to no speech. A robust body of research showed that children with CCN could benefit from the provision of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to meet their communication needs. The POWR online training system was designed to help paraeducators to learn to use evidence-based interactive intervention strategies to support communication skills of preschool children with CCN who use AAC systems. We evaluate the intervention effects of paraeducator and corollary change in child participants using an observational coding system. The coding system is a timed event coding system, meaning each code captures the occurrence and length of each target behavior. Examples of codes would be paraeducator modeling, wait times, and child verbal response. To ensure the integrity and reliability of the study result, we served as student researchers and trained to become reliable coders using the DataVyu coding systems to code interactions between paraeducator-child dyads. Student researchers had to complete certain tasks and training to become proficient in the POWR Project coding process. Student researchers were required to reach a 90% proficiency rate in areas of paraeducator communication, child communication, and wait times. Once they accomplished 90% agreement with mentor guidance in training tasks, student researchers could make coding contributions to the POWR Project. This presentation will provide introduction to the POWR coding system and secondary coding procedures. Implication and future directions will be discussed.

Mentor

Sarah Douglas, Tiantian Sun