Habit Reversal to Decrease Filled Pauses in Public Speaking: A Partial Replication. (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bördlein, Christoph; Sander, Anja
• Other Names: Taube Vera guest-editor.; Bördlein Christoph guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Research on social work practice. Volume 30:Number 5(2020)
• Page Start: 491
• Page End: 495
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: habit reversal -- public speaking -- partial replication -- single-system design -- evidence-based practice; Social service -- Periodicals; 361.3205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049731519894663
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7315

Abstract

Purpose: Many students have difficulties in public speaking because of their use of filled pauses (e.g., utterances like "um"; misuse of the word "like"). Mancuso and Miltenberger used habit reversal to decrease filled pauses in public speaking. The present study aimed at replicating this study as a student project. Method: Participants were four undergraduate students of social work. The training phase and total number of sessions were shortened compared to the original study. Results: The mean number of responses (filled pauses) per minute decreased throughout the study and during follow-up measurement. Discussion: Nevertheless, the replication of experimental control wasn't successful because three of the four participants showed a decrease in response frequency already during the baseline. As a project, the study demonstrates that students of social work with only rudimentary training in single systems research methods can implement evidence-based practice procedures in their work with clients.