Description: In precision teaching and fluency training, the goal is not only for the individual to perform a skill correctly but also to complete it at a high rate.
Research Summary: Clinical research, primarily in the form of case studies, indicates that precision teaching/ fluency training may increase the rate of a variety of previously learned skills resulting in subsequent benefits to individuals with autism. A recent experimental study indicated that when added to academic and behavioral curriculum, precision teaching/ fluency training increased communication skills.
Recommendations: Although precision teaching/fluency training has been shown to be effective with a variety of populations, few experimental studies indicate that precision teaching/fluency training is an effective teaching strategy for individuals with autism and additional research is needed in this area.
Selected References:
Selected scientific studies:
Solis, T., Derby, K. M., & McLaughlin, T.F. (2003). The effects of precision teaching techniques and functional communication training on problem behavior for a 12-year-old male with autism. International Journal of Special Education, 18, 49-54.
Additional information:
Kubina, R. M. Jr., Morrison, R. & Lee, D. L. (2002). Benefits of adding precision teaching to behavioral interventions for students with autism. Behavioral Interventions, 17(4), 233-246.
