ERIC Number: EJ987323
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0021-8855
EISSN: N/A
Observational Effects on the Preferences of Children with Autism
Leaf, Justin B.; Oppenheim-Leaf, Misty L.; Leaf, Ronald; Courtemanche, Andrea B.; Taubman, Mitchell; McEachin, John; Sheldon, Jan B.; Sherman, James A.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, v45 n3 p473-483 Fall 2012
Children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may play with limited objects or toys, making it difficult for teachers to identify reinforcers to use in teaching new skills. The goal of this study was to alter children's preferences from highly preferred toys to toys that were originally less preferred using an observational pairing procedure. Child participants observed a preferred adult playing with toys that were initially less preferred by the child. This intervention resulted in a shift in preference toward the item manipulated by the adult. Maintenance of the changed preference was idiosyncratic across participants. Results suggest a procedure for expanding the range of items that students with ASD will select. (Contains 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Conditioning, Reinforcement, Observational Learning, Autism, Toys, Children, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Observation, Adults, Intervention
Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. Available from: Department of Applied Behavioral Science. Kansas University, 1000 Sunnyside Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-2133. Tel: 785-841-4425; Fax: 785-841-4425; e-mail: behavior@mail.ku.edu; Web site: http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jaba/index.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A