Chengan Yuan
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Phone: 480-727-0671
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Farmer (ED) 418D Tempe, AZ 85287
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Mail code: 1811Campus: Tempe
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Dr. Chengan Yuan is an associate professor of special education and applied behavior analysis at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. His work focuses on enhancing treatment outcomes for learners with autism and developmental disabilities. His research primarily revolves around investigating effective, efficient, and socially valid instructional strategies.
Dr. Yuan is a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). He has extensive experience in international practice of applied behavior analysis. He has collaborated, worked, and conducted research with children and young adults with autism and developmental disabilities in New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, China, and the USA. He remains actively engaged with international colleagues in both research and clinical practice. Dr. Yuan has served as a peer reviewer for numerous academic journals and as an expert reviewer for the French National Research Agency—ANR. He previously taught behavior analysis at the University of Iowa and the University of Waikato.
- 2018 PhD, Teaching and Learning (Special Education), University of Iowa
- 2009 MAppPsy 1st class hons, Behaviour Analysis, University of Waikato, New Zealand
- 2006 BSocSci, Psychology, University of Waikato, New Zealand
Guiding Research Topic:
Improving intervention efficiency and effectiveness for individuals with autism and developmental disabilities through:
- comparative analyses of instructional procedures,
- concurrent intervention for multiple behavioral targets and learners,
- involving and training natural behavior-change agents to increase teaching opportunities, and
- advancing research methodologies.
Selected Publications (see the list of publications in the CV)
Yuan, C., Wang, L., Matus, J., Hart Barnett, J. E., & Rotheram-Fuller, E. (2025). Reexamining reciprocity in autism: A systematic review. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-025-00494-1
Wang, L., Yuan, C., Alsharif, S, Zhang, Q. A., & Du, Y. (2024). What predicts within-participant replication in single-case comparisons? A logistic regression analysis. Remedial and Special Education. 45(2), 112-124. https://doi.org/10.1177/07419325231190808
Yuan, C., & Wang, L. (2024). Group instruction for young children with autism: A systematic review. Journal of Behavioral Education. 33(4), 831-861. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-023-09510-y
Yuan, C., & Chen, L. (2020). Improving reciprocal conversation and social preference of children with autism. Exceptional Children, 87(1), 113-132. https://doi.org/10.1177/0014402920926460
Yuan, C., & Hua, Y. (2020). Treatment preference evaluation. In F. R. Volkmar (Ed.). Encyclopedia of autism spectrum disorders. New York, NY: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_102509-1
Courses
2026 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 598 | Special Topics |
| SPE 598 | Special Topics |
| SPE 528 | Assess & Interv Prog Skill Acq |
| DCI 791 | Seminar |
2025 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| DCI 792 | Research |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 593 | Applied Project |
| SPE 792 | Research |
2025 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 593 | Applied Project |
| SPE 598 | Special Topics |
| SPE 598 | Special Topics |
2025 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
2024 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| DCI 792 | Research |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 593 | Applied Project |
| SPE 792 | Research |
2024 Summer
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 598 | Special Topics |
| SPE 598 | Special Topics |
2024 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 593 | Applied Project |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
2023 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 593 | Applied Project |
2023 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
2022 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 593 | Applied Project |
2022 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
2021 Fall
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 593 | Applied Project |
2021 Spring
| Course Number | Course Title |
|---|---|
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 560 | Behavior Change Procedures |
| SPE 526 | Concepts and Principles of ABA |