Premium
Changing preference from tangible to social activities through an observation procedure
Author(s) -
Leaf Justin B.,
OppenheimLeaf Misty L.,
TownleyCochran Donna,
Leaf Jeremy A.,
Alcalay Aditt,
Milne Christine,
Kassardjian Alyne,
Tsuji Kathleen,
Dale Stephanie,
Leaf Ronald,
Taubman Mitchell,
McEachin John
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1002/jaba.276
Subject(s) - observational study , reinforcement , psychology , preference , autism spectrum disorder , task (project management) , observational learning , developmental psychology , autism , social behavior , cognitive psychology , social psychology , economics , experiential learning , microeconomics , medicine , mathematics education , management , pathology
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have qualitative impairments in social interaction and often prefer food or tangible reinforcement to social reinforcement. Thus, therapists who work with children with ASD often use food or tangible items as reinforcers to increase appropriate behaviors or decrease problem behaviors. The goal of the present study was to shift children's preferences from a highly preferred tangible item to an initially nonpreferred social reinforcer using an observational conditioning procedure. Participants observed a known peer engage in a simple task and select the social reinforcer that was not preferred by the participant. This procedure resulted in a shift of preference toward the social reinforcer by all participants. Maintenance data showed that although the preference change did not maintain for 1 of the participants, it was quickly reestablished with additional observational trials. Results provide further support for the use of observational procedures to alter preferences.