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The stability of function of automatically reinforced vocal stereotypy over time
Author(s) -
Wunderlich Kara L.,
Vollmer Timothy R.,
Mehrkam Lindsay R.,
Feuerbacher Erica N.,
Slocum Sarah K.,
Kronfli Faris R.,
Pizarro Eliana
Publication year - 2019
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.620
Subject(s) - stereotypy , psychology , stability (learning theory) , function (biology) , developmental psychology , cognitive psychology , computer science , neuroscience , machine learning , amphetamine , evolutionary biology , dopamine , biology
Although prior research has suggested the function of socially reinforced problem behavior can change across time, the stability of the function of automatically reinforced behavior is largely unknown. Further, some authors have suggested automatically reinforced behavior is likely to enter into socially mediated contingencies. The present study compared 2 functional analyses conducted on the same target behavior at least 1 year apart. Participants were 6 individuals diagnosed with an intellectual or developmental disability displaying automatically reinforced vocal stereotypy. Results indicated the function of each participant's vocal stereotypy remained stable over time (i.e., no new functions were acquired); however, future research on functional stability for automatically reinforced behavior of other topographies is needed.