Empirical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of group contingencies for managing behaviors in multiple contexts, however, there is little research on the use of a group contingency via telehealth services. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face early intervention services at many ABA clinics were suspended and, for many families, transitioned to primarily or partially telehealth-based services. This study extended the literature by directly comparing two variations of group contingencies, the independent group contingency and the randomized dependent group contingency (or “hero procedure”), to evaluate the relative effectiveness of each as a tool to promote on-task behavior through a telehealth-based social skills program for children with autism. Two young children with autism (age range from 4-7 years) participated in the current study. An alternating treatment design was utilized to evaluate intervention effects. Results indicated a positive effect on the target behaviors. However, there was a lack of clear differentiation between the two conditions. These results suggest that practitioners can choose either variation of the game to promote learner’s positive behavior. In addition, social validity measures suggested that both procedures were feasible to implement, acceptable to both participants, and produced minimal negative peer pressure when participants lost the game
