Comparison of differential reinforcement procedures for treating automatically reinforced behavior

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2016

First Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Second Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Third Committee Member

Karsten, Amanda

Abstract

"Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit stereotypy that can be socially stigmatizing and interfere with education programs. Differential reinforcement interventions that have been used for treating automatically reinforced problem behavior are differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA). However, little research to date has compared their relative efficacy for decreasing automatically reinforced problem behavior while measuring effects on appropriate task engagement. The purpose of this study was to compare the relative efficacy of DRO and DRA for decreasing automatically reinforced stereotypy and increasing appropriate task engagement and productivity. Two individuals with autism spectrum disorder were included. Results were inconclusive as to which treatment was relatively more effective for decreasing motor stereotypy, increasing productivity, and increasing engagement."

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