title: Contriving establishing operations: responses of individuals with developmental disabilities during a learning task.
abstract: The field of applied behavior analysis has utilized the ability to capture and contrive establishing operations in treating aberrant behavior in individuals with developmental disabilities. However, research on the use of establishing operations in the teaching of appropriate behavior is not as systematic. This study examined the effects of establishing operations on the responses of three males with mild to moderate intellectual disability during an incremental repeated acquisition procedure. Individuals responded more frequently and accurately during periods of longer deprivation (1 day and 2-3 days) than during shorter periods (15 min and 2h). These results have implications for conducting preference assessments, scheduling daily activities, maximizing responding and teaching new skills.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Auburn University, 226 Thach Hall, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. zayacrm@auburn.edu
authors.forename: Ryan M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Zayac
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001245:Association Learning; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D016352:Group Homes; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D007859:Learning Disabilities; D008297:Male