Who is credited with the development of Pivotal Response Training?

The development of Pivotal Response Training is attributed to Koegel. This approach focuses on increasing the child’s motivation to engage and improving their communication and social skills by targeting pivotal areas of development, such as motivation and response to social cues. Pivotal Response Training is rooted in the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and emphasizes the importance of the child's active participation in the learning process. By addressing pivotal behaviors, the training aims to lead to broader positive changes in other areas of functioning.

This method contrasts with more traditional methods of instruction that may focus on discrete skills or behaviors in isolation. By fostering naturalistic teaching environments and promoting the child's interest, Koegel’s work has shown significant success in enhancing communication and social abilities in children with autism.