Christos Nikopoulos

Academic qualifications

• Board Certified Behavior Analyst^TM – Doctorate level (exam-based) (Sep 2010)
• DPhil in Psychology (Mar 2004)
• Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning (Sep 2007)
• BSc (Hons) in Occupational Therapy (Jul 1996)

Profile

Dr Christos Nikopoulos, having a background in occupational therapy, he is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA^®-D) who holds a DPhil in psychology, investigating the use of video modelling as a behavioural analytic procedure in autism treatment. He has gained international experience in working with children with autism, which has resulted to numerous publications (including an authored book on autism) as well as the delivery of keynote speeches at national and international conferences. His current research on video modelling with individuals with autism is at the forefront of research and development in this area. His research activities resulted in gaining the award of Chartered Scientist from the Science Council. He is also a scientific advisor for the Research Autism charity and guest reviewer for the Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, ESRC, EPSRC as well as for the Health & Social Care Research & Development Function of the Public Health Agency (HSC R&D).

Committee responsibilities

• BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Examination Board
• BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy Course Committee
• MSc Occupational Therapy Examination Board
• MSc Occupational Therapy Course Committee
• MSc Neurorehabilitation Examination Board
• MSc Neurorehabilitation Course Committee
• MSc Hand Therapy Course Committee
• Pre-reg MSc Occupational Therapy Course Committee
• Pre-reg MSc Occupational Therapy Examination Board
• Reviewer of the Research Ethics Committee of the School of Health Sciences & Social Care

Admin responsibilities

• MSc Module leader - Children, Young People, and Families
• MSc Module leader - Functional Assessment of Challenging Behaviours across the Lifespan
• Elected School representative

Teaching responsibilities

• MSc Module leader - Children, Young People, and Families.
• MSc Module leader - Functional Assessment of Challenging Behaviours across the Lifespan.
• Teaching in various modules for the undergraduate course.
• Masters dissertation supervision.
• Research degree supervision

Research interests

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Behaviour Analysis: applied, experimental, and conceptual
• Video Modelling / Technological Innovations in Clinical Practice
• Evidence Based Practice / Single Subject Research
• Family-Centred Approaches
• Functional Assessment Methods
• Behaviour Analytic Approaches in Rehabilitation
• Teaching Methods in Higher Education

Please do contact me if you are a prospective student interested in pursuing a PhD in any of the above research areas.

Further, I am willing to supervise individuals pursuing BCBA certification as well as Board Certified Associate Behavior Analysts (BCaBA).

Research centres

• CCentre for Research in Rehabilitation (CRR)

Membership and affiliation

• Graduate member of the British Psychological Society
• Member of the Health Professions Council (State Registered)
• Behavior Analyst Certification BoardTM - Doctorate level (exams-based)
• Member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (nominated; USA)
• Member of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis
• Member of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) (nominated; USA)
• Member of the Experimental Analysis of Behaviour Group (EABG)

Professional activities or recognition

Occasional consultant for the National Charity for Autism Education/TreeHouse special school for children with autism, UK.

Reviewer

• Journals
  - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
  - International journal Interaction Studies: Social Behaviour and Communication in Biological and Artificial Systems
• Councils
  - Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
  - Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
• Governmental Agency
  - Health & Social Care Research & Development Function of the Public Health Agency (HSC R&D)
  

• Science Council (UK): Chartered Scientist

Fellowships

• Higher Education Academy

Scientific advisor

• Research Autism charity
  

Conferences

Nikopoulos, C.K., & Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P.G. (2010). Video modelling interventions for children with autism; implications for occupational therapy practitioners. Paper presented at the 34th Annual Conference of the College of Occupational Therapists, Brighton, UK.

Nikopoulos, C.K., Pierce, W.D., Morrow, J.E., & Moderato, P. (2009). Professional Development Series: Behavior analysis around the world. 35th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, Phoenix, Arizona. (invited panellist).

Nikopoulos, C.K. (2008). Teaching complex social skills to children with autism: Advances of video modelling. Autism2008. Conference held by the Autism Cymru.

Nikopoulos, C.K., & Keenan, M. (2008). Promoting social play skills in children with autism using video modeling. Poster presentation at the 7th International Meeting for Autism Research, International Society for Autism Research (INSAR), London, UK.

Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., & Nikopoulos, C.K. (2008a). Evaluating the impact of video-based versus traditional lectures on student learning. Paper presented at the 7th European Conference on e-Learning, Agia Napa, Cyprus.

Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., & Nikopoulos, C.K. (2008b). Functional assessment of challenging behaviours towards evidence-based treatment for children with autism. Workshop run at the 32nd Annual Conference of the College of Occupational Therapists, Harrogate, UK.

Nikopoulos, C.K., Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P.G., & Konstantopoulos, K. (2008). Effects of video modelling on emerging speech in an adult with traumatic brain injury: Preliminary findings. Fourth Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis, Madrid, Spain.

Zgouris, O., & Nikopoulos, C.K. (2008). Parent - child play interactions: Perceptions and experiences of parents of children with autism. Paper presented at the Council of Occupational Therapists for the European Countries, Hamburg, Germany.

Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., & Nikopoulos, C.K. (2007a). Modelling clinical reasoning for health informatics: Improving occupational therapy practice. Paper presented at the 31st Annual Conference of the College of Occupational Therapists, Manchester, UK.

Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P.G., & Nikopoulos, C.K. (2007b). Functional assessment of problem behaviours: design of effective treatments through the application of an evidence-based approach. Invited workshop run at the College of Occupational Therapists, Specialist Section ‘Children, Young People and Families (ChYP&F), London, UK.

Nikopoulos, C.K., & Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P.G. (2007). Promoting data-based decision making through the use of systematic direct observation methods. Implications for practice and research. Invited workshop run at the College of Occupational Therapists, Specialist Section ‘Children, Young People and Families (ChYP&F), London, UK.

Nikopoulos, C.K. (2006). Video modelling and behaviour analysis; children with autism in context. Invited paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Parents for the Early Intervention of Autism in Children parent-led Group (PEACH), London, UK.

Nikopoulos, C.K., & Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P.G. (2006a). Advances in interventions based on modelling for children with autism: Findings from a systematic review. Paper presented at the Third International Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis, Milan, Italy.

Nikopoulos, C.K., & Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P.G. (2006b). Validating occupational therapy intervention programmes in paediatrics: direct and systematic measurement techniques. Workshop run at the 30th Annual Conference of the College of Occup. Therapists, Cardiff, UK.

Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., & Nikopoulos, C.K. (2006). A new model of clinical reasoning in health informatics; Occupational therapy in context. Paper presented at the 14th Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, Sydney, Australia.

Nikopoulos, C.K. (2005). Video modelling as a treatment procedure for children with autism. Invited workshop presented at the International Conference ‘Facing Autism: ABA Ireland 2005’, School of Psychology, University of Ulster, Coleraine, UK.

Nikopoulos, C.K., & Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P.G. (2005). Observational learning from a behavioural analytic perspective; video modelling and children with autism in context. Workshop run at the 2nd International Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis, Gdansk, Poland.

Jeffers, K., Porter-Armstrong, A., Baxter, D., Nikopoulos, C., & Rutherford, J. (2004). An investigation into smoking, lifestyle and smoking cessation in Mental Health. Paper presented at the Seventh European Congress of Occupational Therapy, Athens, Greece.

Nikopoulos, C.K. (2004). Applied behaviour analysis (ABA) in autism. Invited workshop at the National Association for Paediatric Occupational Therapists, Antrim, N. Ireland, UK.

Nikopoulos, C.K., & Keenan, M. (2004). Using video modelling to teach complex social sequences

to children with autism. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological

Society, Northern Ireland Branch, Portrush, N. Ireland, UK.

Nikopoulos, C.K., Keenan, M., & Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P.G. (2003a). Establishing generalisation of social initiation and play by children with autism using video modelling. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Behaviour Analysis in Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland.

Nikopoulos, C.K., Keenan, M., & Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P.G. (2003b). Training and generalization of social initiation and play in children with autism using video modeling. Paper presented at the Applied Behavior Analysis Annual Convention, San Francisco, USA.

Nikopoulos, C.K., & Keenan, M. (2002). Construction of an activity schedule for children with autism: The effectiveness of video modelling. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Experimental of Analysis Behaviour Group, London, UK.

Nikopoulos, C.K., & Keenan, M. (2001). Promoting social initiation in children with autism. Paper presented at the Applied Behavior Analysis International Convention, Venice, Italy.

Smyrni, P.G., & Nikopoulos, C.K. (1999). Assistive technology contribution and implementation in children with learning disabilities. Proceedings of the 3^rd Hellenic Occup. Therapy Conference in “Learning Disabilities”, Hellenic Occupational Therapy Association, 4-5 December, Athens.

Other external activities

Invited book reviews for international Refereed journals:

Nikopoulos, C.K. (2010). [Book: Behavioral support: teachers’ guides to inclusive practices (2nd Ed) by R. Janney and M.E. Snell]. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 40, 136-137.

Nikopoulos, C.K. (2008). [Book: Understanding applied behavior analysis: An introduction to ABA for parents, teachers and other professionals]. Child & Adolescent Mental Health, 13(3), 154.

Publications

Journal Papers

(2011) AlHeresh, R. and Nikopoulos, CK., The role of the occupational therapist in Jordan: A survey of the members of the healthcare team exploring their knowledge about occupational therapy in rehabilitation hospitals, Disability and Rehabilitation 33 (9) : 778- 786

(2010) Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P. and Nikopoulos, CK., Evaluating the impact of video-based versus traditional lectures on student learning, Educational Research 1 (8) : 304- 311 Download publication

(2010) Nikopoulos, C., Book review on Behavioral support: teachers’ guides to inclusive practices (second edition) by R Janney and ME Snell published in Baltimore by Paul H Brookes, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 40 (1) : 136- 137

(2010) Kelly, F. and Nikopoulos, C., Facilitating independence in personal activities of daily living after a severe traumatic brain injury, International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation 17 (9) : 474- 482

(2009) Nikopoulos, CK., Canavan, C. and Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., Generalized effects of video modeling on establishing instructional stimulus control in children with autism: Results of a preliminary study, Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions 11 (4) : 198- 207 Download publication

(2008) Nikopoulos, C., Review of the book: Understanding applied behavior analysis: An introduction to ABA for parents, teachers and other professionals., Child & Adolescent Mental Health 13 (3) : 154- 154

(2008) Nikopoulos, C. and Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., Teaching complex social skills to children with autism: Advances of video modeling, Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention 5 (2) : 30- 43 Download publication

(2007) Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P. and Nikopoulos, CK., A new integrated model of clinical reasoning: development, description and preliminary assessment in patients with stroke, Disability and Rehabilitation 29 (14) : 1129- 1138 Download publication

(2007) Nikopoulos, CK. and Keenan, M., Using video modeling to teach complex social sequences to children with autism, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 37 (4) : 678- 693 Download publication

(2007) Nikopoulos, C., Use of video modeling to increase generalization of social play by children with autism, The Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis 2 (2) : 195- 212 Download publication

(2004) Nikopoulos, C., ABA and autism, PSYCHOLOGIST 17 (6) : 321- 321

(2004) Nikopoulos, CK. and Keenan, M., Effects of video modeling on social initiations by children with autism, Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis 37 (1) : 93- 96 Download publication

(2004) Nikopoulos, C. and Keenan, M., Effects of video modelling on training and generalisation of social initiation and reciprocal play by children with autism, European Journal of Behaviour Analysis 5 1- 13 Download publication

(2003) Nikopoulos, CK. and Keenan, M., Promoting social initiation in children with autism using video modeling, Behavioral Interventions 18 (2) : 87- 108 Download publication

Conference Papers

(2010) Nikopoulos, C. and Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., Video modelling interventions for children with autism; implications for occupational therapy practitioners., College of Occupational Therapists 34th Annual Conference and Exhibition

(2008) Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P. and Nikopoulos, C., Evaluating the impact of video-based versus traditional lectures on student learning, 7th European Conference on e-Learning, 7th European Conference on e-Learning (2) : 214- 221

(2008) Nikopoulos, C., Teaching complex social skills to children with autism: Advances of video modelling, Autism2008, Autism Cymru

(2008) Nikopoulos, C., Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P. and Konstantopoulos, K., Effects of video modelling on emerging speech in an adult with traumatic brain injury: Preliminary findings, 4th Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis

(2008) Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P. and Nikopoulos, C., Functional assessment of challenging behaviours towards evidence-based treatment for children with autism, 32nd Annual Conference of the College of Occupational Therapists

(2008) Zgouris, O. and Nikopoulos, C., Parent-child play interactions: Perceptions and experiences of parents of children with autism, 8th European Congress of the Council of Occupational Therapists of the European Countries (COTEC)

(2007) Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P. and Nikopoulos, C., Modelling clinical reasoning for health informatics: Improving occupational therapy practice, 31st Annual Conference of the College of Occupational Therapists

(2007) Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P. and Nikopoulos, C., Functional assessment of problem behaviours: Design of effective treatments through the application of an evidence-based approach, College of Occupational Therapists, Specialist Section ‘Children, Young People and Families (ChYP&F)

(2007) Nikopoulos, C. and Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., Promoting data-based decision making through the use of systematic direct observation methods: Implications for practice and research, College of Occupational Therapists, Specialist Section ‘Children, Young People and Families (ChYP&F)'

(2006) Nikopoulos, C., Video modelling and behaviour analysis: Children with autism in context, Annual Conference of the Parents for the Early Intervention of Autism in Children (PEACH)

(2006) Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P. and Nikopoulos, C., A new model of clinical reasoning in health informatics: Occupational therapy in context, 14th Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapists

(2006) Nikopoulos, C. and Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., Advances in interventions based on modelling for children with autism: Findings from a systematic review, 3rd International Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis

(2006) Nikopoulos, C. and Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., Validating occupational therapy intervention programmes in paediatrics: Direct and systematic measurement techniques, 30th Annual Conference of the College of Occupational Therapists

(2005) Nikopoulos, C., Video modelling as a treatment procedure for children with autism, International Conference of the Association of Behavior Analysis

(2005) Nikopoulos, C. and Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., Observational learning from a behavioural analytic perspective; video modelling and children with autism in context, 2nd International Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis

(2004) Jeffers, K., Porter-Armstrong, A., Baxter, D., Nikopoulos, C. and Rutherford, J., An investigation into smoking, lifestyle and smoking cessation in mental health, 7th European Congress of Occupational Therapy

(2004) Nikopoulos, C., Applied behaviour analysis (ABA) in autism, National Association for Paediatric Occupational Therapists

(2004) Nikopoulos, C. and Keenan, M., Using video modelling to teach complex social sequences to children with autism, Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society

(2003) Nikopoulos, C. and Keenan, M., Training and generalization of social initiation and play in children with autism using video modeling, Applied Behavior Analysis Annual Convention

(2003) Nikopoulos, C., Keenan, M. and Nikopoulou-Smyrni, P., Establishing generalisation of social initiation and play by children with autism using video modelling, Annual Conference of the Behaviour Analysis

(2002) Nikopoulos, C. and Keenan, M., Construction of an activity schedule for children with autism: The effectiveness of video modelling, Annual Conference of the Experimental of Analysis Behaviour Group

(2001) Nikopoulos, C. and Keenan, M., Promoting social initiation in children with autism using video modeling, 1st Applied Behavior Analysis International Convention

Books

(2006) Nikopoulos, C. and Keenan, M., Video modelling and behaviour analysis: a guide for teaching social skills to children with autism. London: Jessica Kingsley