Progress Monitoring Data for Learners With Disabilities: Professional Perceptions and Visual Analysis of Effects

Abstract

This study serves as an initial attempt to establish content validity for graphs likely to be included in trainings targeting progress monitoring for professionals serving learners with or at risk for disabilities. We created a survey containing 32 graphic displays of hypothetical learner data. These surveys were administered to a sample of special education teachers, behavior analysts, higher education faculty, and related service providers. Survey respondents rated each graph on its likelihood of being encountered in practice and whether a graph depicted a therapeutic effect. Results indicated that graphs displaying a therapeutic effect were most likely to be encountered and that graphs with variable data in either a baseline or intervention condition were associated with incorrect visual analysis determinations. Implications of our findings are discussed with respect to personnel who develop and provide trainings on analyzing learners’ progress monitoring data.