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Discrete Trial Training and Autism Ranking: Limited positive evidence

Status Research

There are a number of limitations to all of the research studies on DTT published to date.  For example

  • the majority of the studies had 10 or less participants, with most having 3 or less participants
  • the majority of the studies used low quality methods such as multiple baseline or alternating design
  • three of the five controlled studies had less than 20 participants and two of the three randomised controlled studies had less than 30 participants
  • some of the studies which reported that discrete trial training was less successful than other interventions (such as pivotal response training) were carried out by researchers who helped to develop those other interventions

For a comprehensive list of potential flaws in research studies, please see "Why some autism research studies are flawed."

Updated
17 Jun 2022
Last Review
30 Mar 2016
Next Review
01 Nov 2022