title: An analysis of the generalization and maintenance of eye contact taught during play.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Differential reinforcement and most-to-least prompting were implemented within the context of developmentally appropriate play activities in an effort to improve the eye contact between a 4-year-old boy with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and his three therapists.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multiple baseline design across therapists was used to examine the eye contact of a 4-year-old boy with PDD-NOS. Maintenance data were collected at 1, 2 and 3 months post intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention was effective and improvements in eye contact were maintained for at least 3 months post intervention. However, eye contact did not readily generalize across communication partners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that eye contact may not generalize to communication partners who are not directly involved in intervention. Results are discussed in terms of implications for practitioners and directions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Autism Research, Evaluation and Support, Texas State University , San Marcos, TX 78666 , USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ninci
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Katy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Davenport
authors.forename: Allyson
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boutot
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rispoli
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lancioni
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D003216:Conditioning, Operant; D005149:Facial Expression; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D005793:Generalization, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings / Q000523:psychology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology