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. 2011 Spring;44(1):95-108.
doi: 10.1901/jaba.2011.44-95.

Further evaluation of response interruption and redirection as treatment for stereotypy

Erin N Ahrens  1 , Dorothea C Lerman, Tiffany Kodak, April S Worsdell, Courtney Keegan
Affiliations

Further evaluation of response interruption and redirection as treatment for stereotypy

Erin N Ahrens et al. J Appl Behav Anal. 2011 Spring.

Abstract

The effects of 2 forms of response interruption and redirection (RIRD)-motor RIRD and vocal RIRD-were examined with 4 boys with autism to evaluate further the effects of this intervention and its potential underlying mechanisms. In Experiment 1, the effects of motor RIRD and vocal RIRD on vocal stereotypy and appropriate vocalizations were compared for 2 participants. In Experiment 2, the effects of both RIRD procedures on both vocal and motor stereotypy and appropriate vocalizations were compared with 2 additional participants. Results suggested that RIRD was effective regardless of the procedural variation or topography of stereotypy and that vocal RIRD functioned as a punisher. This mechanism was further explored with 1 participant by manipulating the schedule of RIRD in Experiment 3. Results were consistent with the punishment interpretation.

Keywords: automatic reinforcement; punishment; response interruption and redirection; stereotypy.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of intervals with vocal stereotypy (top left) and appropriate vocalizations (bottom left) for Bobby during the treatment comparison. Percentage of session time with vocal stereotypy (top right) and frequency of appropriate vocalizations (bottom right) for Hal during the treatment comparison.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of intervals with vocal stereotypy (top), motor stereotypy (middle), and appropriate vocalizations (bottom) for Glen during the treatment comparison.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage of intervals with vocal stereotypy (top), motor stereotypy (middle), and appropriate vocalizations (bottom) for David during the treatment comparison.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Percentage of compliance during the treatment comparison for Glen (top) and David (bottom).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Percentage of session time with vocal stereotypy for Hal during the schedule manipulation in Experiment 3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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