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ABC-Iceberg

The ABC-Iceberg (ABC-I; Aspy & Grossman, 2011) is a form used to examine the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences observed and to consider the characteristics of autism as they relate to the observed behavior.

Available from The Ziggurat Group

Overview

The ABC-Iceberg (ABC-I; Aspy & Grossman, 2011) is a form used to examine the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences observed and to consider the characteristics of autism as they relate to the observed behavior. The tool is used in conjunction with the Underlying Characteristics Checklist (UCC; Aspy & Grossman, 2011b). The purpose of the ABC-I is to address specific behavioral concerns and then to develop comprehensive interventions that target behaviors in addition to core features of autism spectrum disorder. Using the accompanying Specific Intervention Plan: Guide to Establishing Priorities, the following are identified: observable and measurable target behavior, antecedents, consequences, underlying characteristics (from the UCC), and hypothesized function of the behavior.

Summary

Age: N/A

Time to Administer: 15-30 minutes

Method of Administration: Interview/observation
Used in conjunction with the Underlying Characteristics Checklist and Specific Intervention Plan: Guide to Establishing Priorities

Subscales: Components Identified: Specific Behaviors, Antecedents, Consequences, Underlying Characteristics

Autism Related Research

Wilkerson (2015)

Age Range: N/A - school-based SLP training in the Ziggurat Model for designing social-communication intervention for students with ASD

Sample Size: 20 SLPs

Topics Addressed:

Utility of the Ziggurat Model for training school-based speech-language pathologists in designing intervention for students with ASD

Outcome:Wilkerson (2015)

A pre-test post-test control group design demonstrated a significant difference in the experimental group’s and the control group’s pretest posttest change scores, as demonstrated by an independent samples t-test (p=.039, 18df). Qualitative data analysis resulted in six themes.

Conclusion: While the online training of the model was an effective method with which to train school-based SLPs in using a comprehensive framework, more rigorous research is needed on this model relative to the selection of intervention.