Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training

NCT ID: NCT05849376

Last Updated: 2025-07-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 25 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-03-27
• Study Completion Date: 2027-08-31

Brief Summary

The goals of this project are to (a) incorporate empirical findings on imitation training and learning in autistic children into a comprehensive protocol for Applied Behavior Analysis practitioners designed to rapidly facilitate generalized imitation called Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training (EMIT), and (b) collect pilot data on the efficacy of EMIT with a small sample of autistic children. EMIT will incorporate several features that are grounded in prior research including: (a) evidence-based procedures for establishing trained matching relations (a pre-requisite to generalized imitation), (b) concurrent training of different response types (e.g., motor imitation, object imitation, vocal imitation) to address restricted generalization, (c) multiple manipulative object imitation training, (d) evidence-based procedures for remediating slow acquisition, and (e) frequent tests for the emergence of generalized imitation. EMIT will be the first protocol designed for clinical use that reflects research findings on imitation learning spanning almost five decades.

Detailed Description

Using findings from prior research, the investigators will design a manualized training protocol (EMIT) for establishing generalized imitation in autistic children that supervised behavior therapists can implement with a high degree of fidelity. The EMIT protocol will serve as a guide for behavior therapists to help them deliver high-quality, empirically derived imitation training to autistic children. The investigators will conduct a small pilot study to evaluate the effects of EMIT on the emergence of generalized imitation with young autistic children. Single-case experimental design will be used. A multiple baseline across participants design is a single-case design that is common in imitation research with this population. In short, the start of the intervention is stagged across participants to systematically assess the effects of the intervention on each participant's behavior. In this experiment, confirmation that EMIT is responsible for any observed effects will be obtained when changes in each participant's behavior (i.e., correct imitation of novel responses) occur when, and only when, the intervention is introduced.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

EMIT Intervention

Participants will receive the EMIT intervention.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Sessions will be conducted in a room with minimal distractions containing a table, two chairs, a timer, and 3-4 highly preferred (HP) items identified by preference assessments. A maximum of 10 sessions per week will be distributed across at least 3 days per week. Each session will take 15-20 min to conduct. Novel probe trials will be embedded throughout all sessions to continuously assess for the emergence of generalized imitation. When participants can consistently imitate novel probe responses, the intervention will conclude.

Interventions

Emergent Multi-Class Imitation Training

Sessions will be conducted in a room with minimal distractions containing a table, two chairs, a timer, and 3-4 highly preferred (HP) items identified by preference assessments. A maximum of 10 sessions per week will be distributed across at least 3 days per week. Each session will take 15-20 min to conduct. Novel probe trials will be embedded throughout all sessions to continuously assess for the emergence of generalized imitation. When participants can consistently imitate novel probe responses, the intervention will conclude.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder
• Age 5 or under
• Maximum score of 40 on Motor Vocal Imitation Assessment
• Demonstrates identity matching above chance levels

Exclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of intellectual disability
• Diagnosis of certain conditions that impact motor function (e.g., cerebral palsy)
• Visual impairment
• Hearing impairment

• Minimum Eligible Age: 12 Months
• Maximum Eligible Age: 6 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Meghan A. Deshais, Ph.D., BCBA-D

Assistant Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Meghan A Deshais, Ph.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Rutgers University

Locations

Rutgers University

New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Meghan A Deshais, Ph.D.

Role: CONTACT

m.deshais@rutgers.edu

860-942-4453

Facility Contacts

Meghan A Deshais, Ph.D.

Role: primary

m.deshais@rutgers.edu

860-942-4453

Provided Documents

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

Pro2022001609

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id