Association for Behavior Analysis International

This symposium will be comprised of data-based presentations that describe innovative research on maximizing effects of reinforcement and maintenance procedures. In the first study, the authors evaluated the effectiveness of Automatically Accessed Reinforcement Training (AART) with two males with autism. Findings indicated that the AART was effective both both participants, and was superior to Socially Mediated Reinforcement Training (SMRT) for one participant. The second study compared response patterns during FR token schedules and FR tandem schedules, as well as during FR token schedules and VR token schedules under ratio requirements common to clinical application. The third presentation is a data-based quantitative literature review of maintenance procedures in studies published in the Journal of Applied behavior Analysis from 2002 through 2011. Articles were coded for participant characteristics, setting characteristics, use of strategies to program for maintenance, the presence maintenance assessments, and the conditions under which maintenance data were collected. Results indicated that while certain techniques are common in the literature, few consistencies exist.

Only a handful of procedural variations have been suggested for individuals who fail to acquire matching-to-sample (MTS). In typical MTS procedures a preferred item is delivered by an instructor contingent upon a correct response (i.e., Socially Mediated Reinforcement Training; SMRT). Automatically Accessed Reinforcement Training (AART) is an alternative matching to sample procedure in which, an item is hidden beneath the correct comparison stimulus. Thus, a correct matching response directly produces access to the reinforcing item. Two males diagnosed with autism participated. The AART was evaluated with one participant who previously failed to acquire identity matching via SMRT. Both SMRT and AART were then compared with one additional participant. The results show that both participants acquired matching to sample via the AART. Results for the second participant suggest that the AART was superior for teaching matching to sample. These data suggest that the AART may be a useful alternative procedure for children lacking matching skills.

Token schedules of reinforcement are ubiquitous in clinical settings, yet little research has thoroughly evaluated the effects of clinically common token schedule values on responding. Basic research has shown that FR chained schedules produce lower response rates and longer pre-ratio pauses than FR tandem schedules. Basic research has also shown FR token schedules produce overall lower response rates and longer pre-ratio pauses than VR token schedules. These findings, however, have been most apparent at relatively high ratio requirements. The purpose of the current study is to compare response patterns during FR token schedules and FR tandem schedules, as well as during FR token schedules and VR token schedules under ratio requirements common to clinical application.