Comparison of Performance-Based Techniques to Increase Addition Fluency: A Brief Experimental Analysis Study

Abstract

A Brief Experimental Analysis (BEA) is an evaluation process based on the determination of the student's response to treatment conditions in order to select the most effective treatment for the student. In literature, by the help of the BEA, the treatment items that are effective in displaying the academic skills in a correct and fluid manner has been determined in recent years. Although effective treatments have been selected in reading and writing areas by using the BEA, there is very little study in the field of mathematics in which the BEA is applied.

This study aims to determine the effective performance-based treatment techniques which increase the students’ mathematical processing speed with the help of the BEA. Two students with a low mathematical processing speed at the first grade level participated in the research. In the BEA process of the study, a brief multielement design was used. From performance-based techniques; contingent reinforcement, graphical feedback, timing, verbal encouragement and making a choice techniques were applied. Results varied among students. While the effective treatment techniques were found to be making a choice and verbal encouragement for the first student, it was the timing for the second student.