Document Type
Thesis
Date of Degree Completion
Summer 2017
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Applied Behavior Analysis
Committee Chair
Sadie Lovett
Second Committee Member
Richard Marsicano
Third Committee Member
Marte Fallshore
Abstract
Variability in behaviors is a necessary part of living and thriving. Variability allows a person to adapt to new settings, problem solve, and survive. Individuals with an autism spectrum diagnosis lack response variability in their behavioral repertoire, which leads to a lack of problem solving and adaptive skills. Rigid toy play is a common symptom of autism spectrum disorder and shows a larger lack of overall response variability. A lag schedule of reinforcement requires the organism to vary their current response from previous responses in order to receive reinforcement. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of a Lag 5 schedule of reinforcement on variability in toy play responses with stimuli that had a wide range of appropriate toy play responses. A changing criterion design was used to evaluate the effects of a Lag 5 schedule of reinforcement on toy play response variability. Varied toy play responding did increase under lag schedules with the inclusion of training trials. Responding generalized across novel toy sets.
Recommended Citation
Sutton, Holly Lynn, "The Effects of a Lag 5 Schedule of Reinforcement on Toy Play Response Variability" (2017). All Master's Theses. 705.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/705
Language
English