Stereotypic behavior as a reinforcer: effects and side effects.
This study assessed the effects and side effects of using stereotypic behavior as a consequence for correct responding with two autistic children. The children were cued through a model to engage in stereotypic behavior contingent upon correct responses in task-training sessions. This instructional arrangement produced increases in the percent of correct responses. Measures of the stereotypic behavior used as a reinforcer, other stereotypic behaviors, and appropriate behaviors were collected during daily 5-minute free operant settings before and after the task-training sessions. No replicable, systematic changes in the percent of intervals in which subjects engaged in those side effect measures were noted. Thus, a new method for delivering stereotypic behavior as a reinforcer was investigated and produced reinforcing effects; the rate of that behavior in free operant settings was not adversely affected.
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D003463:Cues; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior