Enhancing the effectiveness of a play intervention by abolishing the reinforcing value of stereotypy: a pilot study.
An alternating treatments design compared one condition in which a child with autism was allowed to engage in stereotypy freely prior to the intervention (abolishing operation component) to a second condition without the free-access period. Levels of stereotypy and problem behavior were lower and levels of functional play were higher in the condition with the abolishing operation component. These data provide preliminary support for the use of abolishing operations in interventions to increase the play skills of children with autism.
Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, University of Texas at Austin, USA. russlang@education.ucsb.edu
Russell
R
Lang
Mark
M
O'Reilly
Jeff
J
Sigafoos
Giulio E
GE
Lancioni
Wendy
W
Machalicek
Mandy
M
Rispoli
Pamela
P
White
D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001526:Behavioral Symptoms / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010989:Play Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013239:Stereotyped Behavior / Q000502:physiology*