The stability of function of automatically reinforced vocal stereotypy over time. Issue 2 (4th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wunderlich, Kara L.; Vollmer, Timothy R.; Mehrkam, Lindsay R.; Feuerbacher, Erica N.; Slocum, Sarah K.; Kronfli, Faris R.; Pizarro, Eliana
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied behavior analysis. Volume 53:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 678
• Page End: 689
• Publication Date: 2019-08-04
• Subjects: autism -- automatic reinforcement -- functional analysis -- stereotypy; Psychology, Applied -- Periodicals; Social Behavior -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1002/jaba.620
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8855

Abstract

Abstract : Although prior research has suggested the function of socially reinforced problem behavior can change across time, the stability of the function of automatically reinforced behavior is largely unknown. Further, some authors have suggested automatically reinforced behavior is likely to enter into socially mediated contingencies. The present study compared 2 functional analyses conducted on the same target behavior at least 1 year apart. Participants were 6 individuals diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability displaying automatically reinforced vocal stereotypy. Results indicated the function of each participant's vocal stereotypy remained stable over time (i.e., no new functions were acquired); however, future research on functional stability for automatically reinforced behavior of other topographies is needed.