title: Direct assessment of preferences for social interactions in children with autism.
abstract: Qualitative and quantitative differences in social interactions are core symptoms of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnostic criteria, although there is heterogeneity among individuals with ASDs. This study used a concurrent operants arrangement to evaluate whether social interactions functioned as positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, or as neutral stimuli for 6 individuals with autism. Data suggest that clinicians who work with individuals with ASD should ascertain the functional properties of social interactions prior to using them as a consequence in interventions.
authors.affiliation: Marcus Autism Center and Emory University School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Nathan A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Call
authors.forename: M Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shillingsburg
authors.forename: Crystal N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Andrea R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Reavis
authors.forename: Addie J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Findley
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male
keywords: autism; choice; concurrent operants; social interaction