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.
Lang
Russell
R
Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk, University of Texas at Austin, USA. russlang@education.ucsb.edu
O'Reilly
Mark
M
Sigafoos
Jeff
J
Lancioni
Giulio E
GE
Machalicek
Wendy
W
Rispoli
Mandy
M
White
Pamela
P
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*