title: Pivotal response treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder: a systematic review of research quality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research has indicated support for pivotal response treatment (PRT) as an effective, efficacious and naturalistic intervention for communication and social functioning of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previously not undertaken, this article describes a systematic evaluation of the adherence of PRT research studies to standards of ASD research quality.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search was conducted on two databases. Seventeen PRT studies were evaluated on their use of seven specified research standards.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strong adherence to research quality standards was demonstrated in the use of standardized protocols, systematic application of intervention procedures, inter-rater reliability and objective evaluators. Variation was found in adherence to treatment fidelity standards and in the use of longitudinal designs. Only two studies implemented comparison designs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is recommended that researchers compare interventions, use longitudinal designs, better describe their methodology and implement greater adherence to treatment fidelity to enhance research quality and strengthen conclusions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, University of Calgary , Calgary, Alberta , Canada.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cadogan
authors.forename: Adam W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: McCrimmon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D009042:Motivation; D012107:Research Design
keywords: ASD; PRT; intervention; research quality; systematic review