Acquisition of a play skill using backward chaining with and without a brief auditory stimulus

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2016

First Committee Member

Gould, Daniel

Second Committee Member

Karsten, Amanda

Third Committee Member

Karsina, Allen

Abstract

"Teaching skills with multiple steps often involves using task analysis and chaining procedures. Backward chaining has been shown to be an effective teaching procedure for establishing chains of behavior. Additional research has suggested that delivering a brief auditory stimulus (BAS) contingent on behavior may increase the occurrence of the behavior in the future. Using a BAS in a backward chaining teaching procedure allows for completion of the training step to be reinforced without further interrupting the behavior chain. The current study extends upon previous research with BAS, and compares 2 conditions: one in which a BAS is provided contingent on the correct completion of the training step, and one in which it is not delivered. An additional aspect of the present study was to investigate whether the status of the BAS as a reinforcer would be affected by its inclusion in the chaining procedure. Both neuro-typical individuals and individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder were used within this study. Results suggested that the inclusion of the BAS did not facilitate acquisition of the chains. For one of the four participants, BAS gained reinforcing properties during the study."

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