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Fading a concurrent activity during self‐control training for children with autism
Author(s) -
Gokey Kaitlynn M.,
Wilder David A.,
Welch Teresa,
Collier Aimee,
Mathisen David
Publication year - 2013
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.77
Subject(s) - reinforcement , psychology , autism , duration (music) , developmental psychology , audiology , self control , social psychology , medicine , art , literature
We evaluated a modified technique for teaching self‐control and increasing the duration of waiting for access to a preferred item among 3 children with autism. Participants initially chose an immediate small reinforcer over a delayed large reinforcer and a delayed large reinforcer with a concurrent activity requirement for the duration of the delay. When the delay to the larger reinforcer with the concurrent activity requirement was gradually increased from 0 s to the terminal delay, participants switched to and maintained selection of that option, thereby demonstrating increased self‐control. Finally, the duration of the concurrent activity was gradually reduced without changing the duration of the delay to the large reinforcer. All 3 participants continued to select the delayed large reinforcer, showing self‐controlled responding in the absence of a concurrent activity.