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| International Paper Session - Joint Control, Preference Assessment and Responsiveness to Sensory Stimulation |
| Sunday, May 27, 2007 |
| 4:00 PM–5:20 PM |
| Elizabeth H |
| Area: AUT |
| Chair: Francesca Degli Espinosa (University of Southampton) |
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| The Role of Joint Control in the Emergence of Generalized Receptive Responding. |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| FRANCESCA DEGLI ESPINOSA (University of Southampton), Bob Remington (University of Southampton) |
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| Abstract: To investigate Lowenkron’s (1998, 2004) suggestion that joint control by both echoic responding and tacting is a necessary precondition for generalized receptive language, three children with autism were presented with receptive matching tasks involving selection of individual two-element pictorial stimuli from distracter arrays. Three different sets of 16 stimuli were employed, one during each phase of the experiment. During Phases 1 and 2, each stimulus presented a picture of one of four different items, depicted once in each of four different colours (e.g., red-car). During Phase 3, pictures of four different items were presented, each engaging in one of four different actions (e.g., teddy-sleeping). Although all children could echo, tact, and respond receptively to the component elements of each stimulus individually, the accuracy of both their echoic responding and selection of two-element stimuli in response to two-word verbal instructions (e.g., “red car”, or “teddy sleeping”) was below 20%. Subsequent to learning to echo two-word instructions using Set 1 stimuli, however, all children selected Set 2 and 3 stimuli with at least 90% and 75% accuracy, respectively. The results indicate that establishment of joint control can provide an effective means of teaching generalized receptive language to children with autism. |
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| Altering Preference Assessments Using Conditioned Reinforcement. |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| VANESSA L. ARMANO (Perspectives Corporation), Lela Cloer Smith (Perspectives Corporation) |
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| Abstract: Preference assessments are commonly recommended to identify potential reinforcers when working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Literature in applied behavior analysis states that reinforcer sampling, stimulus variation and therapist delivery of reinforcement can alter the effectiveness of reinforcers. This has not been widely considered when conducting formal preference assessments. This study aims to evaluate changes in preference assessment results when stimuli that are deemed to be less preferred are delivered with variation and creativity. The subjects for this study are children with autism between ages of three and seven, receiving home based, Early Intensive Behavior Intervention for an average of 30 hrs a week. This study will consist of five phases: (1) Formal preference assessment, (2) Teaching session using non-preferred items determined from the preference assessment. (3) Non-preferred items will be paired with additional social and creative praise, (4) A second formal preference assessment will be conducted using all the same stimuli, (5) A second teaching session using the conditioned stimuli. The authors aim to compare the results from the two preference assessments and percentage of correct responding between the two teaching phases. The importance of reinforcement delivery, variation, and sampling will be discussed. |
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| Are Atypical Sensory/Perceptual Responses Salient in Understanding and Treating Autism? |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| DAVID R. DONNELLY (University of Rochester/Monroe Community College) |
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| Abstract: As we continue to explore the nature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) to develop the most effective individualized treatment, atypical sensory responses in this population may offer additional opportunities for behavior analysts to develop accurate hypotheses regarding antecedents and variables maintaintaining behavior, as well as accessing different classes of potential reinforcers. A review of related literature, as well as suggestions for avenues of exploration will be presented. |
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