The autistic child typically displays few appropriate behaviors and a host of inappropriate behaviors. The attention span of these children is extremely short and does not permit the child to fixate to any one activity for a significant period of time. Further, Ferster, et al. (1961) have established that autistic children respond to very few reinforcing stimuli. However, some research has indicated that most autistic children respond positively to music and rhythmic sounds. This study assessed the effects of an operant conditioning program using contingent music as a reinforcing stimulus for appropriate block proximity. The subject was an 11-year-old male, one of twins, who was diagnosed autistic. The study utilized a four-phase ABAB design, where A phases were baseline periods, B phases were conditioning periods. In the baseline condition, the subject was observed for six sessions without earphones and six sessions with earphones but no music. In the treatment phase, music was presented contingent upon instances of block proximity. Instances of appropriate block activity significantly increased when the child was wearing the earphones and receiving music contingent upon block activity. Appropriate behavior decreased during a reversal probe. Additionally, self-stimulatory behaviors dropped to near zero during the conditioning phase of the study.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/181632 |
| Date | January 1977 |
| Creators | Keister, Douglas Charles |
| Contributors | Martin, Robert A. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | vi, 24 leaves : ill. ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
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