Maintenance of treatment effect for automatically reinforced stereotypy in individuals with autism

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2021

First Committee Member

Ahearn, William H.

Second Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Third Committee Member

Henley, Amy

Abstract

"Competing activities, when identified systematically, have been found to be effective in decreasing stereotypic behavior. The purpose of this study was to identify effective competing stimuli and procedures for producing independent and functional engagement with the competing leisure materials. To achieve this, activity schedules were incorporated following evaluation of the effects of the competing stimuli. The competing stimuli identified for both participants were effective in the reduction of stereotypy with high levels of item contact for both participants paired with high levels of functional engagement for one and moderate levels for the other. The picture activity schedule introduced to one participant was successful in the maintenance of treatment effects producing independent engagement when up to three competing stimuli were presented in the context of low adult supervision. We were unable to implement the picture activity schedule with the other participant due to restrictions implemented following the current pandemic."

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