Effects of multiple exemplar training on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of joint-attention initiations in young children with autism

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2015

First Committee Member

MacDonald, Rebecca

Second Committee Member

Dube, William

Third Committee Member

Hanley, Gregory

Abstract

"The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of multiple exemplar training on the acquisition, maintenance and generalization of initiating joint attention (IJA). Participants were 3 typically developing children and 2 children with autism spectrum disorder. A composite score was developed based on the performance of the typical samples and used to evaluate IJA of the children with autism. Gaze shifting and commenting were taught using social reinforcement in a multiple exemplar format where training sessions were followed by probes of untrained stimuli both within and across toy classes. Results showed that the children with autism learned to initiate joint attention using social reinforcers. Multiple exemplar training was also effective in facilitating acquisition within and across toy classes and the maintenance of IJA. Additionally, stimulus control generalized to a second setting and a second experimenter for both participants."

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