Training and generalization of affective behavior displayed by youth with autism.
Item
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Title
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Training and generalization of affective behavior displayed by youth with autism.
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Identifier
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AAI9510662
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identifier
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9510662
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Creator
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Gena, Angeliki.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Claire L. Poulson
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Date
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1994
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Psychology, Experimental | Education, Special
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Abstract
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The purpose of this study was to teach contextually appropriate affective behavior to youth with autism. Treatment consisted of modeling, prompting, and reinforcement introduced in a multiple-baseline design across different categories of affective responses for four youths. All youths were diagnosed with autism, displayed inappropriate affective behavior, and were between 12 and 18 years of age. Experimental sessions were conducted in a classroom adjacent to the youths' regular classrooms in a day-treatment program. Under treatment conditions, verbal praise and tokens were delivered contingently upon appropriate affective responding during training trials. Modeling and prompting were used as correction procedures. Each youth received treatment for at least three of the following response categories: (a) showing appreciation, (b) indicating dislike, (c) talking about favorite things, (d) laughing about absurdities, and (e) showing sympathy. Generalization of treatment effects was tested across untrained (probe) questions or scenarios that corresponded to all five response categories. Modeling, prompting, and reinforcement for appropriate affect were withheld during probe trials. Generalization of treatment effects was also examined across therapists and settings, and during a one-month follow-up. During the presentation of scenarios, therapists displayed contextually appropriate affect throughout all experimental phases. Treatment effects were specific to the affective response category or categories under treatment. That is, generalization occurred within a response category, but not across response categories. Furthermore, treatment effects generalized across therapists, settings, and time.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
