Component analysis of self-monitoring for increasing task engagement

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2021

First Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Second Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel

Third Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Abstract

"Self-monitoring has been found to be an effective treatment approach for increasing a variety of skills, such as leisure item engagement; social initiations; and vocational task productivity. Because a self-monitoring intervention often includes multiple treatment components (e.g., differential reinforcement of alternative behavior; DRA), the potential benefit of simply providing self-monitoring materials alone remains unclear. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a component analysis of a self-monitoring intervention for increasing task engagement and productivity in two individuals with autism spectrum disorder. During the treatment analysis, various intervention components were evaluated sequentially, including self-monitoring alone (baseline) before and after training, self-monitoring plus DRA (accuracy), self-monitoring plus DRA (accuracy & engagement), and DRA (engagement). Dependent variables measured were task engagement, self-monitoring accuracy, productivity, and stereotypy. Self-monitoring alone was shown to be ineffective for both participants; however, reinforcing accurate self-monitoring of task engagement was observed to be effective for one participant following a history of reinforcement for engagement."

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