Experimenters and Interventionist
A doctoral-level graduate research assistant (i.e., primary
experimenter) and one postdoctoral research assistant (i.e.,
secondary experimenter) in special education served as the
trainers and data collectors. Both trainers had prior experience
with conducting research with students with moderate
to severe disabilities. In addition, both trainers had extensive
training and practical teaching experience providing
academic instruction to students with intellectual disability
and autism using the principles of systematic instruction.
The special education classroom teacher served as the
primary interventionist to implement the scripted science
lessons and guided notes instruction. She was certified to
teach K-12 students with moderate to severe disabilities and
had 6 years of teaching experience in a self-contained classroom
for students with autism. She demonstrated 100%
procedural fidelity during training prior to starting the
respective interventions.