Effects of a lag schedule of reinforcement with progressive time delay on topographical mand variability in children with autism. (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Silbaugh, Bryant C.; Falcomata, Terry S.; Ferguson, Raechal H.
• Is Part Of: Developmental neurorehabilitation. Volume 21:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 166
• Page End: 177
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: Autism -- lag schedule -- manding -- response class hierarchy -- variability; Children with disabilities -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 615.542
• DOI: 10.1080/17518423.2017.1369190
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-8423

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Objective : Evaluate the effects of a Lag 1 schedule of reinforcement and progressive time delay (TD) on topographical mand variability in children with autism. Methods : Using single-subject design methodology, a multiple baseline across behaviors with embedded reversal design was employed. During Lag 0, reinforcement was delivered contingent on any independent instances of manding. During Lag 1 + TD, prompts were faded and reinforcement was delivered contingent on independent or prompted variant mand topographies. Results : Higher levels of topographical mand variability were observed during Lag 1 + TD for both participants. Conclusions : A Lag 1 schedule of reinforcement with progressive TD increased variability across functionally equivalent vocal mand topographies for both participants. This finding extends prior literature by providing a novel model for studying reinforced mand variability in children, and by demonstrating how practitioners could use prompts and differential reinforcement to increase topographical mand variability in children with autism.