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. 2007 Spring;40(1):73-88.
doi: 10.1901/jaba.2007.142-05.

Further evaluation of methods to identify matched stimulation

John T Rapp  1
Affiliations

Further evaluation of methods to identify matched stimulation

John T Rapp. J Appl Behav Anal. 2007 Spring.

Abstract

The effects of preferred stimulation on the vocal stereotypy of 2 individuals were evaluated in two experiments. The results of Experiment 1 showed that (a) the vocal stereotypy of both participants persisted in the absence of social consequences, (b) 1 participant manipulated toys that did and did not produce auditory stimulation, but only sound-producing toys decreased his vocal stereotypy, and (c) only noncontingent music decreased vocal stereotypy for the other participant, but sterotypy paradoxically increased when toys were presented with music. Using a three-component multiple schedule, the results of Experiment 2 showed that the vocal stereotypy of both participants remained below preintervention levels following the removal of auditory stimulation and that 1 participant's vocal stereotypy increased following the removal of contingent reprimands. These patterns suggest that auditory stimulation functioned as an abolishing operation for vocal stereotypy and reprimands functioned as an establishing operation for vocal stereotypy. Together, the two experiments provide a method for identifying alternative stimulation that may substitute for automatically reinforced behavior.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Percentage of time Brian engaged with objects during the first and second free-operant stimulus preference assessments (top).
Percentage of time Nevin engaged with objects during the first, second, and third free-operant stimulus preference assessments (bottom).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Percentage of time Brian engaged in vocal stereotypy and manipulated toys during no-interaction, toys no-audio, and toys conditions (top).
Percentage of time Nevin engaged in vocal stereotypy and manipulated toys during no-interaction, music, music and toys, and toys conditions (bottom).
Figure 3
Figure 3. Percentage of time Brian engaged in vocal stereotypy during the no-interaction and toys sequences (top).
Percentage of time Nevin engaged in vocal stereotypy during the toys and toys and music sequences (bottom).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Percentage of time Nevin engaged in vocal stereotypy during the toys and toys and gum sequences (top).
Percentage of time Nevin engaged in vocal stereotypy during the toys and toys and reprimand sequences (bottom).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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