Enhancing appropriate and variable responding in young children with autism spectrum disorder

ABSTRACT

Objective: The present study utilized lag schedules of reinforcement, in conjunction with training multiple exemplars and provision of prompts, to promote appropriate variability of social skills. Methods: Participants included in three children between the ages of 5 and 7 with ASD. Participants attended a social skills training program twice per week for eight weeks. A multiple probe design across target social skills was used to assess the effects of intervention. Results: Findings indicate that training multiple exemplars alone did not appreciably increase appropriate and variable responding, whereas the addition of lag schedules of reinforcement and prompting to training multiple exemplars resulted in appropriate and variable responding that exceeded baseline levels. Conclusion: Use of lag schedule of reinforcement in conjunction with prompts was more effective than multiple exemplar training in isolation for increasing appropriate variability of social skills.

KEYWORDS:

• Behavioral variability
• lag schedule
• social skills training

Declaration of interest

Keith C. Radley is a co-author of the Superheroes Social Skills program. The Superheroes Social Skills program was developed for the Utah State Office of Education as part of his doctoral training. Keith C. Radley does not benefit, financially or otherwise, from the commercial sale of the program, nor were the data included in the article part of research funded by the commercial publisher. All other co-authors report that they have no conflict of interest.