Increasing variability in play using lag schedules

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2013

First Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel

Second Committee Member

Holcomb, William

Third Committee Member

MacDonald, Rebecca

Abstract

"The DSM-IV-TR characterizes a principle feature of autistic disorder as restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. The current study investigated the use of lag schedules of reinforcement to increase variability in play for two boys diagnosed with autism. Each participant was presented with four activities, and each activity consisted of an array of 11stimuli and 11 trials. On each trial, the participant was prompted to select a stimulus and was given 30 s to manipulate the selected stimulus. The therapist replaced the chosen stimulus with the same stimulus or a duplicate such that each activity could be completed with 11 different stimuli or with the same stimulus on every trial. Variations of a lag reinforcement schedule were used to increase the variety of stimuli used to complete the activity. A lag schedule of reinforcement was not effective in increasing novel selections and trial-by-trial variations for either participant. Novel selections and trial-by-trial variations increased when an additional component, blocking, was implemented. Variability maintained for one participant when blocking was withdrawn."

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