Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1-2026

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Experimental Psychology

First Advisor

Valeria Yllades

Second Advisor

Christelle Garza

Third Advisor

Valerie Neeley

Abstract

Parent training is a critical component of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA); however, limited research has examined how Board-Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) prepare to deliver culturally responsive parent training. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore BCBAs' experiences with professional training, manualized parent training programs, cultural humility, institutional influences, and parent training practices when working with families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), with particular attention to Latinx families. Eight BCBAs practicing in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas participated in semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom. Interviews were analyzed using a hybrid Applied Thematic Analysis (ATA) approach that combined deductive and inductive coding. Five parent themes emerged: Professional Training, Manualized Programs, Cultural Humility, Institutional Factors, and Parent Training Practices. Participants described culturally responsive parent training as an individualized and collaborative process shaped by ongoing professional development, flexibility in intervention delivery, organizational supports and barriers, and meaningful partnerships with caregivers. Inductive findings further highlighted the importance of Bi-directional Learning, Extended Caregiver Influence, and Language Resources in culturally responsive practice. These findings contribute to the growing literature on cultural humility in ABA and provide recommendations for strengthening professional preparation and promoting more culturally responsive parent training for families of children with ASD.

Comments

Copyright 2026 Alyssa Nicole Fuentes. All Rights Reserved. https://proquest.com/docview/3408953557

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