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ABA Business Meeting |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
8:00 AM–8:50 AM |
Private Dining Room 1 (3rd floor) |
Domain: Theory |
Chair: Linda J. Parrott Hayes (University of Nevada, Reno) |
Panelists: MARIA E. MALOTT (Executive Director), GERALD R. BERNICKY (Affiliated Chapters Board Coordinator), PAMELA G. OSNES (Education Board Coordinator) |
Abstract: ABA Business Meeting |
MARIA E. MALOTT (Executive Director) |
GERALD R. BERNICKY (Affiliated Chapters Board Coordinator) |
PAMELA G. OSNES (Education Board Coordinator) |
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2005 ABA Tutorial: The Importance of Understanding and "Extending" Skinner's Extended Tacts for Behavior Analysis Applications |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–9:50 AM |
International North (2nd floor) |
Area: VBC; Domain: Theory |
BACB CE Offered. CE Instructor: T. V. Joe Layng, Ph.D. |
Chair: Janet S. Twyman (Headsprout) |
Presenting Authors: : T. V. JOE LAYNG (Headsprout) |
Abstract: Some have maintained that the investigation and teaching of higher cognitive function is outside the domain of behavior analysis or at least Skinners treatment of Verbal Behavior. In contrast, this presentation will argue that Skinners treatment provides the foundation for understanding a range of complex verbal phenomena important to behavior analysts or anyone interested in higher cognitive function. This is particularly true for those who build programs to teach verbal behavior skills. Building on Skinners analysis, this talk offers a heuristic that may be useful for those who design Verbal Behavior programs. This heuristic helps delineate a hierarchy of repertoires and the contingencies that define them. These extended relations include: Basic units or sameness relations, which include concepts and simple equivalence relations; linked units or ordered relations, which include principles and more complex equivalencelike relations; and combined units or generative repertoires, which include reasoning, problem solving, and the use of metaphor. Generative repertoires are of particular importance for they provide the learner with the means for more autonomous learning. Accordingly, this category will be emphasized, drawing heavily from the work of Joanne K. Robbins (and others) and her analysis of how to teach the various types of intelligence. |
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T. V. JOE LAYNG (Headsprout) |
Joe Layng co-founded Headsprout, and serves as the company's Senior Scientist where he led the scientific team that developed Headsprout’s patented Generative Learning Technology. This technology forms the basis of the company’s Headsprout Early Reading program, for which Joe was the chief architect.
Joe has over 25 years of experience in the experimental analysis of behavior and the learning sciences both in the laboratory and in applied settings. Joe earned a Ph.D. in Behavioral Science (Biopsychology) from The University of Chicago, where he conducted basic research on animal models of psychopathology. Specifically, he, in collaboration with P. T. Andronis and I. Goldiamond, investigated the recurrence of chronic, un-reinforced, self-injurious behavior (SIB – head-banging by pigeons) as a function of past selection contingencies for SIB, and current selection contingencies which maintained a different class of behavior (key-pecking). He also collaborated with P. T. Andronis and I. Goldiamond on research investigating the adduction of untrained complex symbolic social-behavior, which led to the key elements upon which the Headsprout Generative Learning Technology is based. Other work has included Signal Detection Theory experiments on the discrimination of ambiguous stimuli, particularly those of social consequence, in collaboration with J. K. Robbins, H. Karp, and M. Mauldin while at the University of Houston–Clear Lake.
From 1991 to 1996, Joe was the Director of the Academic Support Center, and then Dean of Public Agency and Special Training Programs at Malcolm X College in Chicago. While at Malcolm X College Joe founded the Personalized Curriculum Institute (PCI), which rapidly equips under-prepared students with the skills needed for college success, and worked with the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago White Sox Charities to bring research-based instruction to Chicago's schools. |
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Design of Effective Computer-Based Instruction |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–9:50 AM |
Williford B (3rd floor) |
Area: EDC |
Chair: Jared A. Chase (University of Nevada, Reno) |
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Computer-Based Independent Learning by Low Functioning Students |
Domain: Service Delivery |
KARL W. SMITH (Accelerations Educational Software) |
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Abstract: Teaching students with autism and other learning disabilities frequently requires intensive and expensive one-on-one instruction to be effective. Comparatively inexpensive computers and software could offer a way to deliver more education to these students if the software is designed to enable independent use. Almost no commercially available software currently exists that allows independent effective teaching of students that normally require one-on-one instruction.Behavioral psychology in particular has demonstrated effective methods of instruction of even extremely uncooperative and difficult to educate children and students. The methods require the instructor to adapt to the specific learning needs of the student and use careful control of stimuli, reinforcements, and task to accommodate learning. The instructor collects data continuously or on a probe basis to determine the effectiveness of instruction and make adjustments accordingly. Since the methods are data driven and with the computer’s ability to deliver phenomenally stimulating reinforcement, at least some of teaching can be emulated by software.This presentation will discuss methods of creating software to allow most low functioning students to become independent learners and will show one product designed for these students. |
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Differential Effects of Elaborate Feedback and Basic Feedback on Student Performance in a Modified PSI Course |
Domain: Applied Research |
JARED A. CHASE (University of Nevada, Reno), Ramona Houmanfar (University of Nevada, Reno) |
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Abstract: A prevalent concern facing collegiate educators of large enrollment courses is an inability to provide immediate and personalized feedback to each of their students. With recent advances in technology, this no longer needs to be the circumstance. Many large enrollment courses use web-based technology that offers immediate computerized feedback. However, this feedback is often of a basic sort (e.g., correct or incorrect). The purpose of the current investigation was to provide and to assess the effects of immediate, elaborate feedback relative to immediate, basic feedback on student performance. Four groups from an introductory psychology course participated in the study. Group A received only basic feedback on all quizzes. Group B received elaborate (e.g., specific to each question and conceptual) feedback on all quizzes. Groups C and D received both conditions of basic and elaborate feedback counterbalanced across groups. Response accuracy on identical questions randomly selected for the midterm and the final were evaluated both within- and between-groups. This presentation will provide an overview of the method and results of the study. In addition, findings and implications for future applications will be discussed. |
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Is Autism on the Rise? Issues of Prevalence and Early Risk Factors |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–9:50 AM |
Continental B (1st floor) |
Area: AUT; Domain: Service Delivery |
CE Instructor: Marygrace Yale Kaiser, Ph.D. |
Chair: Jack Scott (Florida Atlantic University) |
MARYGRACE YALE KAISER (University of Miami), Keith Scott (University of Miami) |
Marygrace Yale Kaiser is a Research Assistant Professor and Assistant Director of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Project at the University of Miami. Her work and that of her colleague Keith Scott, has focused on prevalence of serious disabilities in children with special attention to the epidemiology of autism. Dr Kaiser received her doctorate in psychology from the University of Miami where she coordinated the Early Social Communication Project. This project examined the development of joint attention and other forms or early social interaction in children with autism. Her current research puts her in a unique position to build on her background in autism and now to apply the tools of developmental epidemiology to account for the increasing rates of autism and related disabilities. |
Abstract: Recently, issues concerning Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) have received a great deal of attention. Comparisons of epidemiological data from the last 30 years suggest that there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of the disorder. However, the meaning of this increase is currently poorly understood and few population-based studies have been conducted with large U.S. samples. This talk will detail past and present efforts to document the prevalence of autism, as well as discuss implications of the apparent increase in the number of individuals affected by the spectrum of disorders. In addition, characteristics that may increase the risk for developing autism will also be discussed. The few studies that have explored possible association have mostly involved analyses of small, ethnically similar samples which may make results more difficult to generalize. Data from two investigations of large ethnically diverse populations will be highlighted and areas of future investigation will be presented. |
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Int'l Paper Session - Neural Events and Automatic Reinforcement |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–9:50 AM |
Astoria (3rd floor) |
Area: TPC |
Chair: Jose E. Burgos (University of Guadalajara, Mexico) |
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Radical Behaviorism Allows for Neural Causation |
Domain: Theory |
JOSE E. BURGOS (University of Guadalajara, Mexico) |
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Abstract: The radical-behavioristic tenet that neural events do not cause behavioral events is problematic in one crucial respect. In radical behaviorism, causal relations are conceived as functional relations where causes are independent variables and effects are dependent variables. However, there are ordered functional relations whose independent variables are neural and whose dependent variables are behavioral. Radical behaviorism thus allows for neural causation of behavior. |
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An Analysis of the Concept of "Automatic Reinforcment" |
Domain: Theory |
KENNETH MACALEESE (University of Nevada, Reno) |
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Abstract: In contemporary behavior theory, “automatic reinforcement” is regarded as positive (or negative) reinforcement that is not mediated by another person, i.e., is not “socially mediated.” In addition to the issue of distinguishing between social and nonsocially mediated sources of reinforcement, the problem with automatic reinforcement is that it is not well integrated with theory and research on continuous, conjugate, and synchronous reinforcement. These three types or “schedules” of reinforcement may each constitute automatic reinforcement in some cases and at some times, but not in other cases and not at other times. Highlighted along the way will be the history and current status of automatic reinforcement, again with an eye toward determining exactly what is and is not meant by the term. |
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Recent Investigations in Tolerance and Sensitization to the Effects of Cocaine |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–9:50 AM |
Lake Ontario (8th floor) |
Area: BPH |
Chair: Jonathan W. Pinkston (University of Florida) |
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Effects of Cocaine on Eating by Pigeons |
Domain: Basic Research |
JIN HO YOON (University of Florida), Marc N. Branch (University of Florida) |
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Abstract: Effects of cocaine on feeding were examined when intermittent-food was presented for brief durations. In Experiment 1, pigeons were exposed to a variable-time 2-min schedule. Dose related decreases in eating were observed following acute administrations of cocaine. Following daily administrations of cocaine, tolerance was observed. In Experiment 2, 2 groups of pigeons were exposed to a 3-component multiple fixed-time schedule of reinforcement (i.e., 10 s, 30 s, & 120 s). The Before Group received cocaine immediately prior to session and saline following session. The After Group had the order of their injections reversed. Once dose-response functions were assessed, the order of injections was reversed so that all subjects eventually had experience receiving cocaine before and after session. Overall, the degree of tolerance observed was similar across components for a given subject. Additionally, tolerance was more likely to be observed when cocaine was administered prior to session and sensitization was more likely to be observed when cocaine was administered following session. Both Experiment 1 and 2 concluded with the assessment of dose-response functions in the context of daily saline administrations. Under these conditions, dose-response functions generally shifted to the left. |
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Effects of Cocaine on the Locomotor Behavior of Pigeons |
Domain: Basic Research |
JONATHAN W. PINKSTON (University of Florida), Marc N. Branch (University of Florida) |
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Abstract: Previous research has shown that intermittent administration of cocaine may result in increased sensitivity of locomotor behavior to the drug, a phenomenon known as sensitization. Recent work in our lab has been focused on documenting these changes in the drug’s effects using pigeons. In the present experiment, we examined the ability of various doses of cocaine to produce sensitization. This provided us with an opportunity to validate a device designed to detect locomotor behavior in birds. We also examined cocaine’s effects on other behaviors, e.g. grooming, during the development of sensitization. Pigeons were exposed to daily administration of 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg/kg cocaine, across groups. The results showed increased sensitivity to the drug developed to the locomotor behavior of all subjects, regardless of daily dose. Higher daily doses of cocaine resulted in increased sensitivity to higher doses of cocaine than did lower daily doses. Furthermore, the results showed a change in maximum effect in addition to the increase in sensitivity. These effects in relation to the various other behaviors measured will be discussed |
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Why Superstition? An Historical, Conceptual, and Empirical Analysis |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–9:50 AM |
International South (2nd floor) |
Area: EAB; Domain: Theory |
CE Instructor: James S. MacDonall, Psy.D. |
Chair: James S. MacDonall (Fordham University) |
WILLIAM D. TIMBERLAKE (Indiana University) |
William Timberlake received his BA from Pomona College and his PhD from University of Michigan with honors in Experimental Psychology. At Indiana since 1969, he co-founded and directed the Center for the Integrative Study of Animal Behavior and he served for many years on the Board of Fellows of the Poynter Center for the Study of Ethics and American Institutions. His research has been supported by NSF, NIH, and NIDA, and he has published over 130 papers. He is a fellow of APS, APA, and AAAS. His training in operant conditioning came from interactions with Allison, Hearst, and Dinsmoor at Indiana, and sabbatical leaves spent at Harvard with Herrnstein, Skinner, DeVilliers, Mazur, Heyman, Vaughan, and Alexandra Logue, at San Diego with Fantino and Williams, and at Reed with Alan Neuringer. In 1982, he and Gary Lucas began work on superstition in pigeons to discover why Staddon’s group and Skinner reported such different results. In 1985, Timberlake and Lucas published a nine experiment paper that indicated a relation between superstitious behavior and the pigeon’s food-searching repertoire. Several further experiments testing this view were recently performed or recovered due to the efforts of Eduardo Fernandez. Dr. Timberlake also would like to acknowledge important discussions with Nancy Innis, who regrettably died last summer in China, but would have enjoyed the results. |
Abstract: In 1948 Dr. Skinner cleverly introduced the concept of superstitious operant conditioning to explain the results of presenting reward to a pigeon on a fixed-time, response-independent (Pavlovian) schedule. In this talk I will briefly explore: (1) Possible contributions of then recent developments in shaping-by-hand, and an increased focus on human behavior; (2) Why Skinner didn't extend the concept of superstition to account for other Pavlovian results; and (3) Whether superstitious causal inference or niche-related preorganization better accounts for the topography and timing of temporally conditioned behavior. |
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Int'l Symposium - Analysis of Verbal Processes in Clinical Values Methods |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Private Dining Room 3 (3rd floor) |
Area: EAB; Domain: Basic Research |
Chair: Miguel Rodriguez-Valverde (University of Almeria, Spain) |
Discussant: Rainer Franz Sonntag (Private practice) |
Abstract: This session presents three studies concerned all of them with the analysis of values clarification according to the processes involved in Experiential Avoidance Disorder and, consequently, according respectively to the ways that mainstream cognitive therapies and new behavioural psychotherapies confront clinical experiential avoidance. The first paper addresses, first, the impact of orienting specifically valued experimental task in the context of two relations as personal values, respectively to Control and Acceptance Pain. Then specific acceptance-based and cognitive-control-based strategies were compared in coping with experimentally induced pain. The second paper examines the effects of acceptance and personalization versus generic values on tolerance for and perception of aversive stimulation. The third study presents an analogue for personal psychological impact of aversive private events by analysing the . conditions under which aversive private events change their value according to coordination with valued actions or against them. |
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Experimental Pain Task in the Context of Values |
MIGUEL RODRIGUEZ-VALVERDE (University of Almeria, Spain), Marisa Páez Blarrina (University of Almeria, Spain), M. Carmen Luciano-Soriano (University of Almeria, Spain), Olga Gutierrez Martinez (University of Almeria, Spain) |
Abstract: Given a previous values context specifically related to each kind of strategy, this study compares specific acceptance-based and cognitive-control-based strategies for coping with experimentally induced pain. Thirty participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions. Ten were assigned to an acceptance-based protocol (ACT) addressed to framing pain-related thoughts and feelings as in coordination with personal values, while disconnecting pain-related thoughts and feelings from literal actions. Another ten to a cognitive-based protocol (COG) addressed to framing those thoughts and feelings as in opposition to reaching one’s personal values, while trying to change or control such private events related to pain. The remaining were assigned to an experimental control condition (CONT). Participants took part in a nonsense-syllables-matching task that involved successive exposures to increasingly painful shocks. At different times throughout the task, participants had to choose whether to continue with the task and be shocked or stop performing the task and avoid being shocked, and they had explicit benefits and costs for each option. Two measures were obtained: tolerance to shocks and self-reports of pain. ACT participants showed significantly higher tolerance to pain and lower believability of pain perceptions as compared to the COG and CONT conditions. Conceptual and clinical implications are discussed. |
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Acceptance and Personal Values in the Context of Aversive Stimulation |
HAZEL MOORE (National University Ireland, Galway), Ian T. Stewart (National University Ireland, Galway), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
Abstract: This study examined the effects of acceptance and personalization of values on tolerance for and perception of aversive stimulation in the form of periodic electric shock. Forty participants were randomly assigned to either an acceptance-based protocol (ACT), designed to disconnect pain-related thoughts and feelings from literal actions, or to a control-based protocol (CONT) that focused on changing or controlling pain-related thoughts and feelings. Furthermore, for half the participants in both conditions, participation in the study was explicitly linked with important personal values whereas for the remainder it was linked with generic values. All participants took part in a nonsense-syllables-matching task that involved successive exposures to increasingly aversive shocks. At times throughout the task, participants were asked to choose to continue with the task and be shocked or stop the task and avoid being shocked. Participants performed the task twice, both before and after receiving the assigned experimental protocol. Two further measures were obtained at pre- and post-intervention: tolerance of the shocks and self-reports of pain. Results showed that ACT participants showed higher tolerance of aversive stimulation and lower believability of experienced pain. The results are also relevant to the systematic analysis of values in clinical analogue studies of psychological acceptance. |
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Coordination and Opposition Relations Between Aversive Private Events and Evalued Actions: An Experimental Preparation |
M. CARMEN LUCIANO-SORIANO (University of Almeria, Spain), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Miguel Rodriguez-Valverde (University of Almeria, Spain), Olga Gutierrez Martinez (University of Almeria, Spain), Francisco J. Molina-Cobos (University of Almeria, Spain), Kelly G. Wilson (University of Mississippi) |
Abstract: The analysis of the conditions under which aversive private events change their value is the main goal of this study. Two relevant context are analyzed in this study that concern those involved, on the one hand, in Experiential Avoidance Disorder –EAD-(where aversive private events are against valued actions), and on the other hand, in Acceptance Commitment Therapy -ACT (where this aversive private events are contextualized in coordination with valued actions). Four groups of ten subjects each took part in the study. Two of them underwent two experimental conditions (one group per condition) where different relations with private events were experimentally established: (1) A coordination relation with valued actions, and (2) an opposite relation with valued actions. The other two served as control conditions. Results are discussed in terms of the transformation of functions involved in each condition, as well as in terms of EAD prevention. The clinical implications of the study are remarked in regard to their relevance for understanding some clinical methods in ACT. |
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Int'l Paper Session - Applied Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disabilities |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Stevens 4 (Lower Level) |
Area: DDA |
Chair: Bunyamin Birkan (Anadolu University) |
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Teaching, Maintaining and Generalizing Time Concepts for Students with Mental Retardation: How Many Subaims Should Be Thought? |
Domain: Applied Research |
BUNYAMIN BIRKAN (Anadolu University) |
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Abstract: The purpose of the present study was to analyze effectiveness of direct instruction method for teaching, maintaining and generalizing time concepts for students with mental retardation. It was also tested that how many subaims should be thought for promoting generalization in this study. Participants included three students whose functioning levels ranged from mild to moderate mental disabilities. Effectiveness of direct instruction method was evaluated through use of a multiple probe design across behaviors and replicated across students. Results indicated that the direct instruction method was successful in teaching targeted behaviors to all three children with mental retardation. Students maintained target behaviors at 100% accuracy 17, and 30 days after training and generalized responses across real time materials. Limitations of the study and future research implications are discussed. |
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Reinforcer Potency of Complex Stimuli: Preferences for Color |
Domain: Applied Research |
RICK SHAW (Lifeways Learning Center) |
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Abstract: A paired stimulus (PS) 16-item (4 separate colors by 4 separate items) preference assessment and a 4-item (4 separate colors by highest preferred item) PS preference assessment and was conducted as a screen to identify potential reinforcers and reinforcing colors for 16 individuals with moderate to severe retardation. Eight participants of the 16 met the criteria from the screening to continue to the reinforcer assessment for color preferences. For the reinforcer assessment, rates of responding were measured on a fixed-ratio concurrent operant schedule using a reversal design to verify the identified preferences for high preferred color (HPC) items and low preferred color (LPC) items. The results indicated that six of the eight participants from the reinforcer assessment demonstrated a preference for color as indicated through differential responding for the HPC item vs. the LPC item for all participants. Results also indicated increased responding for the identified reinforcers for all participants during the reinforcer assessment. |
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Teaching to Recognize Animal Sounds to a Child with Visual Impairment and Mental Retardation |
Domain: Applied Research |
AYTEN UYSAL (Anadolu University) |
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Abstract: It's important for visually impaired children to recognize evviromental sounds.This study was prepared to teach a visualy impaired and mental reterded child to recognize various animals from their saunds. Simultaneous prompting was used for this purpose. Three sets of animal souns were prepared to teach animal names that the child did not know. The study was designed using multiple probe design across behaviors. The subject of the study was nine years old girl and the skills were tought individualy to subject. At the end of the study, simultaneous prompting was faund to be effective in teaching the targeted skills. |
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Assessing High-Risk Drinking Among College Students Across Environmental Settings |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Boulevard B (2nd floor) |
Area: EAB; Domain: Applied Research |
Chair: Kent E. Glindemann (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
Abstract: Four data-based presentations on college alcohol use and abuse will be presented. The first paper presents data assessing the prevalence of drinking and driving following Division I NCAA football games. Implications for intervention efforts to reduce levels of driving under the influence (DUI) after these types of sporting events will be discussed. The second presentation reports on intervention efforts to reduce at-risk drinking by college students in a community setting. Results indicated that incentive/reward interventions show some promise as a tool to reduce alcohol consumption in a large-scale setting. A focus of this paper is on the development of the methodology necessary to conduct this research in community field settings. The third paper presents research assessing the effects of various themed fraternity parties on students’ levels of intoxication, and discusses implications for prevention interventions with these high-risk groups. The final paper presents data indicating that differential reinforcement, using an incentive/reward intervention, can effectively reduce alcohol consumption in a high-risk setting (e.g., at fraternity parties), and assessed the effects of multiple exposures to this intervention. The chairperson will then comment on the presentations, and discuss implications for future research efforts in this realm. |
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Drinking and Driving Following NCAA Collegiate Football Games |
STEVEN W. CLARKE (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Kent E. Glindemann (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Christi Blake (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Christopher Downing (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
Abstract: This field study was designed to study intoxication levels of drivers following collegiate football games. Participants included 144 individuals (86 men and 58 women) attending tailgate parties at one of four NCAA Division 1-A college football games at a large university in the southeastern United States. Research assistants approached drivers as they entered one of three randomly selected parking lots. The drivers were recruited to participate before the game, and agreed to self-administer a Breathscan ® tester after the game, just before they left the parking lot. Drivers returned the breathalyzers to research assistants at the exits of the parking lot in exchange for a raffle entry form to win $250. A positive breath test indicated that the driver was at or above a BAC of .05 (accuracy = ±.005). Eighty-seven percent of drivers agreed to participate, and 52.5% returned a breath tester. Results indicated that 36.4% of drivers tested positive, and were thus at risk for DUI. The range was from 16.6% to 44.6%, and men were more likely to test positive than women. The implications of these findings for future studies of alcohol consumption at tailgate parties, and the development of interventions to prevent DUI will be discussed. |
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Development of a Methodology to Track Participants’ Alcohol Consumption in a Community Setting |
ASHLEY RAINIS (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), David Michael Harris (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Steven W. Clarke (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), E. Scott Geller (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
Abstract: The current study developed and assessed a methodology for tracking college students’ Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels in the downtown area of a large college town. A within-subjects design examined the drinking behaviors of participants across five consecutive Thursday nights. Participants were recruited to join a longitudinal study during the first week of the study from 12:00 AM until 2:30 AM. An incentive of entry into a raffle for $250 was offered. Participants were asked to predict their level of intoxication, complete a brief survey on their drinking behaviors, and were then administered a BAC test using handheld breathalyzers. The following day participants completed an online survey assessing negative outcomes resulting from their alcohol consumption. Participants were asked to visit a BAC assessment tent set up downtown for the following four consecutive Thursday nights between 11:00 PM and 2:30 AM to receive a BAC assessment and complete the survey. Research findings indicate this is a viable methodology for recruiting and tracking participants who consume alcohol in community settings. This methodology will now be employed to test a community-wide intervention for ameliorating peak BAC levels with this population. Results, including BAC levels and subsequent negative outcomes, will be presented and discussed. |
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Assessing the Effects of Themed Fraternity Parties on Students’ Levels of Intoxication |
SARA E. VALENTINO (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Elizabeth Mackey (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Demetrius Ball (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Douglas Wiegand (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
Abstract: The goal of this field study was to evaluate the relation between various party themes and subsequent alcohol intoxication at fraternity parties. BAC data was collected at 24 fraternity parties with eight different fraternities. Party themes were categorized as: a) None, b) Costume Party (e.g., boss-secretary, pirates-mermaids, toga, Tahiti, Beach, Graffiti), c) Alcohol-Related (e.g., 40 oz’ers, Ice-Luge), and d) Hazing (new members were humiliated). Each fraternity had at least one party without a theme and one party with a theme. Individuals who attended both parties were then selected for analysis. Themes were determined by two independent observers (r = 1.0). Individual participation in the party theme was also recorded. Overall, parties with a greater amount of alcohol present and parties closed to Greek members only had the highest mean BACs. While there was little difference in BACs across themes, a number of significant findings emerged. Specifically, party goers were significantly more intoxicated at: a) parties involving hazing of new members, and b) parties with a Alcohol-Related theme. In addition, alcohol consumption was significantly higher at two of three “toga” parties. The implications of these findings for alcohol risk management and the implementation of interventions to reduce intoxication will be discussed. |
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The Effects of Multiple Exposures to an Intervention Aimed at Reducing Fraternity Party Alcohol Use |
IAN J. EHRHART (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Morgan Padgett (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Stacey Pavlak (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University), Paul Blalock (Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University) |
Abstract: College student alcohol use continues to be a concern on this nation’s campuses, contributing to a variety of negative consequences ranging from physical harm to reduced academic success, and impaired decision-making to driving under the influence (DUI). This study investigated the ability of an incentive/reward intervention to reduce alcohol use at university fraternity parties. Four fraternities were recruited and placed into either a standard A-B-A design (two fraternities, three parties each) or an extended A-B-B-B-A design (two fraternities, five parties each), the latter being implemented to study the effects of multiple exposures to the above intervention. At baseline parties, all participants completing a brief questionnaire and having their Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) assessed with a handheld breathalyzer were entered into a raffle for $100 to be drawn before the research team left the party. At intervention parties, a contingency was implemented in which only those participants whose BAC was below .050 were entered into the raffle. Independent variables included Gender, Fraternity Party, and Greek-Life Status, with the primary dependent variable being assessed BAC level. Results will be discussed with an emphasis on directions for further research using this unique intervention. |
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Int'l Symposium - Behaviour Analysis and the Neuroscience of Language and Cognition: Semantic Priming and Derived Stimulus Relations |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Boulevard C (2nd floor) |
Area: EAB; Domain: Basic Research |
Chair: Simon Dymond (APU, Cambridge, UK) |
Discussant: William J. McIlvane (University of Massachusetts Medical School) |
Abstract: A number of behavioral researchers have argued that derived equivalence relations provide the basis for semantic or symbolic meaning in natural language. If this view is correct, it follows that equivalence relations should possess properties that are typically associated with semantic relations. This symposium will describe an ongoing programme of collaborative research designed to investigate cognitive phenomena such as semantic priming from a behavior-analytic perspective. The first paper will describe a series of experiments on semantic priming and derived stimulus relations involving arbitrary pseudowords. Behavioural measures (response latencies and errors) and event-related potentials (ERPs) measures of semantic priming were employed. The second paper incorporated a series of methodological controls and employed a larger derived relational network, while the third paper investigated cross-modal semantic priming effects and derived stimulus relations. Taken together, the three papers provide supportive evidence for a preliminary behavior-analytic account of semantic networks by fusing cognitive methodology and ERPs measures with derived stimulus relations. |
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Equivalence Relations and Semantic Priming: A Preliminary Behavior-Analytic Model of Semantic Networks |
SEAN COMMINS (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Carmel Staunton (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Robert Whelan (APU, Cambridge, UK), Yvonne Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Derek Walsh (National University of Ireland, Maynooth), Paul M. Smeets (Leiden University), Simon Dymond (APU, Cambridge, UK) |
Abstract: The present study sought to test a preliminary behaviour-analytic model of semantic networks by using priming and derived equivalence relations. In Experiment 1, participants were trained and tested in two four-member equivalence relations using word-like nonsense words (participants were told that the words were from a foreign language). This was followed by exposure to a single-word lexical decision task in which participants were presented with pairs of nonsense words that were previously used in the equivalence training and testing or were completely novel. Priming effects were observed within but not across equivalence relations, in that recognition was faster for a nonsense word that was preceded by an equivalent rather than a non-equivalent word. In Experiment 2, the lexical decision task was presented immediately after the conditional discrimination training (i.e., before an equivalence test), and the priming effect was replicated for those participants who subsequently passed the equivalence test but not for those who failed. Experiment 3 employed a two-word lexical decision task (rather than the single-word task), and event related potentials were recorded during specific priming trials. The reaction time effect was again replicated, and the grand average N400 waveforms and peak amplitudes were greater for non-equivalent word-pairs relative to directly trained and equivalent word pairs. All three experiments provided evidence to support the argument that derived stimulus relations are a useful preliminary model of semantic relations. |
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Visual-Visual Equivalence Relations and Semantic Priming: A Behavioural and Event Related Potentials Study |
EOGHAN J. RYAN (APU, Cambridge, UK), Simon Dymond (APU, Cambridge, UK), Robert Whelan (APU, Cambridge, UK), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
Abstract: If derived relational responding is to provide a functional-analytic account of language and cognition, then it follows that many of the measures of language and thought processes typically employed within cognitive psychology, such as semantic priming, should be sensitive to derived stimulus relations. The research reported here was designed to test this suggestion using episodic and mediated priming. In the current study, adult participants were first exposed to conditional discrimination training designed to establish four, four-member derived equivalence relations and were then presented with a standard lexical-decision task. The presentation of across-class primes and targets resulted in increased response latencies relative to within-class primes-target pairs. No differential effects were found for accuracy scores, however. During this experiment, event related potentials (time-locked, averaged electroencephalograms) were recorded. In addition to the increased response latencies to across-class prime-target pairs, a larger N400 waveform was also recorded. This waveform has been shown in cognitive research to be sensitive to semantic relatedness. Taken together, these data lend support to the argument that derived relations constitute behavioural units of human language and cognition. |
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Auditory-Visual Equivalence Relations and Semantic Priming |
SIMON DYMOND (APU, Cambridge, UK), Kelly J. Garner (APU, Cambridge, UK), Robert Whelan (APU, Cambridge, UK), Eoghan J. Ryan (APU, Cambridge, UK), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
Abstract: If derived-stimulus relations are to provide a behavioural model of semantic relations found in natural language, then behavioural and electrophysiological measures of semantic relations within cognitive neuroscience research should apply to derived stimulus relations. The present experiments sought to examine cross-modal (auditory-visual) semantic priming with derived equivalence relations and incorporated behavioural (response latencies and errors) and event-related potential measures. In Experiment 1, subjects were first exposed to conditional discrimination training designed to establish four, three-member derived equivalence relations. Two of the four classes contained an auditory node (i.e., a computer-generated spoken pseudoword) and the remaining two classes contained purely visual stimuli. Subjects were then presented with a standard lexical-decision task, before being exposed to a formal matching-to-sample test for equivalence relations. Experiment 2 utilized the same procedure with the added measurement of event-related potentials during the lexical decision task. |
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Int'l Symposium - Derived Relational Responding and Non-Arbitrary Relations |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Boulevard A (2nd floor) |
Area: EAB; Domain: Basic Research |
Chair: Ian T. Stewart (National University of Ireland, Galway) |
Abstract: The theme of the current symposium is the relationship between derived (arbitrary) and non-arbitrary relational responding. The first three papers examine various aspects of the interference of non-arbitrary relational responding (NARR) with the emergence of arbitrary relational responding (ARR) in normally developing adults and children as well as in developmentally delayed children. The fourth paper is also concerned with NARR and derived relational responding but instead of examining the interference of NARR in the context of ARR such as equivalence, it explores the role of NARR as an important aspect of the learning history necessary for ARR. Paper 1 examines how prior training in transitivity can mitigate the effect of NARR on derived equivalence, as well as examining the effect of NARR on transitivity itself. The second paper examines inoculation against the NARR effect in one non arbitrary dimension by training alternative non-arbitrary dimensions. The third paper examines the effect of NARR on derived equivalence in the context of a population with Autistic Spectral Disorder. The fourth paper presents an investigation of second order contextual control over non-arbitrary relational responding, thus demonstrating a phenomenon that may be useful in diverse research projects that use derived relations-based protocols to model language. |
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Stimulus Equivalence, Transitivity & Non-Arbitrary Relations |
LORNA POWER (National University of Ireland, Galway), Ian T. Stewart (National University of Ireland, Galway), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
Abstract: The theme of the current symposium is the relationship between derived (arbitrary) and non-arbitrary relational responding. The first three papers examine various aspects of the interference of non-arbitrary relational responding (NARR) with the emergence of arbitrary relational responding (ARR) in normally developing adults and children as well as in developmentally delayed children. The fourth paper is also concerned with NARR and derived relational responding but instead of examining the interference of NARR in the context of ARR such as equivalence, it explores the role of NARR as an important aspect of the learning history necessary for ARR. Paper 1 examines how prior training in transitivity can mitigate the effect of NARR on derived equivalence, as well as examining the effect of NARR on transitivity itself. The second paper examines inoculation against the NARR effect in one non arbitrary dimension by training incorporating alternative dimensions. The third paper examines the effect of NARR and derived equivalence in the context of a population with Autistic Spectral Disorder. The fourth paper presents an investigation of second order contextual control over non-arbitrary relational responding, thus demonstrating a phenomenon that may be useful in diverse research projects that use derived relations-based protocols to model language. |
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Stimulus Equivalence, Non-Arbitrary Relations and Non-Arbitrary Relational Training |
MARY CASSERLY (National University of Ireland, Galway), Ian T. Stewart (National University of Ireland, Galway), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
Abstract: The inclusion in equivalence testing of color as a competing non-arbitrary relational response dimension has been shown to interfere with equivalence responding. This study extended previous analyses of this phenomenon by allowing training stimuli to vary along non-arbitrary dimensions other than color before exposure to the color equivalence test. Three groups of adults were trained and tested for the formation of three 3-member equivalence relations. Group 1 were trained using black and white stimuli and then tested with a color interference equivalence test in which the sample was always differently colored from the ‘equivalent’ comparison, but was the same color as one of the non-equivalent comparisons. This training and testing pattern was repeated three times using the same stimuli each time. Group 2 also received three sessions of black and white equivalence training followed by color equivalence testing. However, for this group, the training stimuli varied along the non-arbitrary dimensions of size, font and shape, respectively, in the three training sessions. For Group 3, the training stimuli varied along two non-arbitrary dimensions (e.g., both size and font) before each of the three testing sessions. Findings raised a number of issues for derived relational control, and these will be discussed. |
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Exploring the Interfering Effects of Non-Arbitrary Relations on Derived Relational Responding in Children with a Diagnosis of Autism: A Possible Behavioral Methodology for Assessing Executive Function |
NEIL KENNY (CABAS, Ireland), Ian T. Stewart (National University of Ireland, Galway), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
Abstract: Executive function (EF) is a subject rarely studied by behavior analysis. However, a recent study by Stewart, Barnes-Holmes, Roche, and Smeets (2002) reported a procedure that may be useful for analyzing EF. The procedure involved presenting tests for equivalence relations that included competing forms of non-arbitrary stimulus control. The study provided clear evidence of interference from the non-arbitrary stimulus relations in a normal adult population. Executive dysfunction is pervasive in children with autism (Pennington & Ozonoff, 1996), and affected subjects have also been found to demonstrate poor abstract reasoning, inflexible rule use, perserverative behaviors, cognitive inflexibility and poor attention. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of conflicting non-arbitrary relations on the formation of derived relations using subjects with a diagnosis of autism. The study also sought to determine if exemplar training could be used to establish derived relational responding in the context of competing non-arbitrary stimulus relations and to determine if this training also served to reduce the interference effect across multiple stimulus dimensions. In general, exemplar training proved to be effective, and the implications of the data for educational interventions with autistic populations will be discussed. |
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An Empirical Investigation of Contextual Control Over Non-Arbitrary Relational Responding |
GILLIAN KELLY (National University of Ireland, Galway), Ian T. Stewart (National University of Ireland, Galway), Dermot Barnes-Holmes (National University of Ireland, Maynooth) |
Abstract: This study provides an empirical demonstration and investigation of the Relational Frame Theory phenomena of Crel and Cfunc based contextual control. In Experiment 1, participants were trained to respond in accordance with relations of sameness and difference in the presence of two arbitrary shapes which were thus established as Crel cues for SAME and DIFFERENT relational responding respectively. Training using additional contextual cues was then provided in order to induce transformations of function along particular stimulus dimensions (e.g., size), thus establishing Cfunc control. Following this training, participants were then successfully tested for generalization of Cfunc control in which a novel Cfunc stimulus cue came to control transformation of function along a novel stimulus dimension. Expt. 2 demonstrated control via compounds of the Crel and Cfunc cues shown in Experiment 1. Experiment 3 demonstrated the generalization of Cfunc control to an alternative pattern of relational responding. Participants were first trained and tested for More Than / Less Than responding. They then successfully completed tests for Cfunc control over the transformation of function in accordance with More than / Less than relations. The implications of these findings are discussed and directions for future research are explored. |
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Discerning Patterns in Complex Environments: Challenges in Organizational Interventions |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Marquette (3rd floor) |
Area: OBM; Domain: Applied Research |
Chair: Thomas E. Boyce (Center for Behavioral Safety, LLC) |
Discussant: Ned Carter (The Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions) |
Abstract: Organizational and community settings provide an opportunity to assess a wide variety of variables and methodological considerations. They are unique in that there is a wealth of information and data to analyze and many unique challenges provided by these situations. This symposium seeks to address some of these considerations, more specifically related to how more extensive data analysis can deepen these investigations in complex organizations and seek to identify the function of behavior in these settings. |
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The Challenge of Identifying the Function of Behavior in an Organizational Setting |
SHARLET D. BUTTEFIELD (University of Nevada, Reno), Thomas E. Boyce (Center for Behavioral Safety, LLC) |
Abstract: Interventions in organizational and community settings deal with many complex factors and challenges, in addition to those seen in clinics or in the laboratory. This presentation discusses some of these factors more generally, and specifically as related to an anti-theft intervention in a specific organizational setting. Some of the issues discussed relate to methodological concerns, but in addition, explore the challenge of establishing function of a behavior as it relates to the intervention. More specifically, a low-cost intervention was implemented to decrease theft in an organization, and results indicate that the function of the theft behavior may have varied based on product selection. This presentation will discuss these findings as they relate to the function of theft behavior in this specific study, as well as possible implications for other organizational and community interventions |
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Having Tidied Up, Patterns Reveal: Analysis of Occupational Health and Safety in Complex Settings |
BISMARCK J. MANES (Western Michigan University), Grisel M. Puertos (Western Michigan University), Mark P. Alavosius (Western Michigan University) |
Abstract: Large organizations require thorough analyses of large and potentially complex data sets to reveal orderly patterns suggesting interventions. Analyses support meaningful interpretation of environmental conditions and their effects on behavior. Advancements in computer technology have expanded our ability to work with large data sets and explore complex patterns. Hospital settings are representative of complex environments consisting of many separate departments and/or units; assessment data are reviewed from one large community hospital. Yet, hospitals are small when contrasted with self-insured groups (SIGs), where individual companies in an industry or region pool funds to cover the workers' compensation costs incurred by the group, and unused worker's compensation funds are redistributed back to member companies potentially as reinforcement of safety management. Given these contingencies, SIGs offer especially interesting niches for behavior-based safety technologists due to the contingencies in place that establish safe work environments as valuable conditions. Analysis of injury data is a necessary method for assessing areas of improvement relevant to health and safety in complex organizations like hospitals and SIG situations. Important dimensions of injuries, such as severity and cost, and consideration of contextual variables add depth to traditional safety measures (e.g. frequency of injury reports). Sulzer-Azaroff and Fellner (1984) outlined a strategy for assessing performance targets in occupational settings. This presentation extends this strategy to include more extensive explorations of large data sets obtained from several projects now underway. |
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A Model of Performance Diagnosis and the Development of a Job Performance Diagnostic Questionnaire |
RYAN B. OLSON (Santa Clara University), Stephanie Capodanno (Santa Clara University), Jeanine Plowman Stratton (Florida State University, BMC) |
Abstract: Organizational performance diagnostic methods often focus upon a few critical behaviors or accomplishments and may require a subject matter expert to implement. While this type of customization leads to effective interventions, the process is not likely to be repeated broadly by non-experts. In our view, society and the field of OBM will benefit from the development of performance analysis techniques that are applicable at the level of job performance and less dependent upon special expertise. The current project describes a model of performance and reports on the development and pilot testing of an informant assessment questionnaire designed to diagnosis general weaknesses in support for job performance. |
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Integrating the New Behavior Therapies |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Private Dining Room 1 (3rd floor) |
Area: CBM; Domain: Service Delivery |
Chair: Elizabeth Gifford (Center for Health Care Evaluation) |
Discussant: Robert J. Kohlenberg (University of Washington) |
Abstract: As behavior therapy continues to evolve, new therapies and applications continue to emerge. Manualized treatments are the standard in empirical cognitive behavioral psychology, driven by the requirements of randomized controlled trials. Yet topographically driven treatment is inconsistent with a thoroughgoing behavioral approach. In this symposium we present several examples of people working to integrate intervention strategies from the new wave behavior therapies, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Functional Analytic Psychotherapy. Each presenter will describe their integration efforts, present applications to specific populations in which they have applied these efforts, and discuss their perspective on the integration process. |
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Functional Analytic Psychotherapy as an Integrative and Comprehensive Behavioral System for the Treatment of Depression |
JONATHAN W. KANTER (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Glenn M. Callaghan (San Jose State University), Sara J. Landes (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Laura Dee (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Andrew Busch (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Keri R. Brown Popp (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) |
Abstract: Clinical behavior analysts seeking to work with adult, outpatient depression are presented with the dilemma that the most widely-used empirically-supported treatments—Cognitive Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy—do not provide a functional approach to the assessment and treatment of problems that affect interpersonal relationships. These problems may include emotional avoidance, interpersonal sensitivity, problems with intimate relating, passivity, and rumination. However, behavioral treatments such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Behavioral Activation do not explicitly target the full range of potential interpersonal problems revealed through functional assessment. This talk will present new advances based on Functional Analytic Psychotherapy (FAP) that allow the clinical behavior analyst to utilize a thorough-going behavioral formulation of interpersonal problems to decide when and where to engage in values clarification, acceptance, cognitive restructuring, activation and other interventions with depressed clients. Examples of the use of this formulation with depressed clients will be presented. |
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The Integration of FAP and DBT in Secure Settings |
KIRK A.B. NEWRING (University of Nevada, Reno) |
Abstract: This discussion will focus on the use of FAP and DBT in two populations; civilly committed sexually violent predators, and criminally committed youthful sex offenders. These sexually misbehaving individuals are often stigmatized. One of DBT's core assumptions is that clients are doing the best they can. Further, DBT presumes the client to be behaving in such as way, not out of malevolence, but out of contextual motivators. This nonjudgmental stance provides an opportunity to establish the relationship necessary for FAP. Clients with high frequency problem behavior are often appropriate for DBT. Counter to what the media may convey, however, sexually violent offenders infrequently engage in overt sexually violent behavior. In the FAP conceptualization, there may be functional equivalents to the "problem" behavior for which they are incarcerated. For example, the so-called "power and control" rapists can demonstrate behaviors consistent with power and control struggles without sexually offending. In DBT, validation with the sexually violent predator or sexually inappropriate youth can function as a reinforcer. Providing contexts in which the horrific and hurtful behaviors can be understood often enhance the therapeutic relationship, which in turn enhances the power of FAP. |
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The Relationship in Psychotherapy: A FAP and ACT Perspective |
BARBARA S. KOHLENBERG (University of Nevada School of Medicine), Elizabeth V. Gifford (Center for Health Care Evaluation) |
Abstract: It is widely accepted that the relationship between client and therapist is a potent variable leading to positive psychotherapy outcome. However, the psychotherapy relationship is conceptualized in different ways across different therapies. In this paper we will review traditional FAP and ACT perspectives on the psychotherapeutic relationship. We will also discuss our integration of FAP and ACT perspectives, and how we applied this new treatment, FACT, to smoking cessation. The convergence and divergence between FAP and ACT will be discussed, and clinical examples will be presented. |
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Intelligence Can Be Taught: The Life and Work of Arthur Whimbey |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Private Dining Room 2 (3rd floor) |
Area: EDC; Domain: Applied Research |
Chair: Bradley G. Frieswyk (BGF Performance Systems) |
Discussant: Myra Jean Linden-Whimbley (TRAC Institute) |
Abstract: In August of 2004, Dr. Arthur Whimbey passed away after a four-year struggle with throat and mouth cancer. During his lifetime he published over 30 reading, writing, and math textbooks; and theory books dealing with training intelligence and education reform. His contributions to education and instructional design are still having tremendous success in remedial college programs and intervention programs for middle and high schools. Most notably for ABA is the application of his work at the Morningside Academy in Seattle, WA. In 1999 Dr. Whimbey was well received at ABA as an invited speaker making a behavioral analysis of his work. This symposium is dedicated to his work’s history and future. |
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Teaching Intelligence in Motor and Cognitive Domains: The Role of Examples and Nonexamples in Teaching Complexity |
JOANNE K. ROBBINS (Morningside Academy) |
Abstract: Art Whimbey initially referred to Think Aloud Problem Solving (TAPS), an approach to training intelligence, as Cognitive Therapy. Building on the work of Benjamin Bloom (1950), TAPS emerged as a speaker and listener dialogue to be employed in all of Whimbey’s cognitive therapy exercises ranging from college prep exercises in Analytical Writing and Thinking (1990) to Thinking Through Math Word Problems (1990) for elementary age students. This paper describes how Tiemann and Markle’s matrix of Types of Learning presented in Analyzing Instructional Content and the instructional design principles from Markle’s Design for Instructional Designers can combine with Whimbey’s strategy to increase intelligence in psychomotor, simple cognitive, and complex cognitive domains. |
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Teaching Reasoning Skills with Thinking-Aloud Problem Solving (TAPS) |
KENT JOHNSON (Morningside Academy) |
Abstract: Much of the thinking and reasoning that a problem solver engages in involves a private conversation with oneself as a speaker and as a listener and reactor to one’s own speaking. From this radical behavioral account we can identify key thinking and reasoning repertoires, which we can teach to learners in order to improve their skills at figuring out solutions to problems. I will elaborate a behavioral account of the reasoning process and describe Arthur Whimbey’s Thinking-Aloud Problem Solving (TAPS) method, which provides a logical extension of this analysis. I will describe 5 repertoires of the problem solver as a speaker, 5 repertoires of the problem solver as a listener and reactor to one’s own speaking (Robbins, 1996), and his method for systematically teaching these repertoires to learners. |
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Against Convention: A Life Struggle to Improve Education |
BRADLEY G. FRIESWYK (BGF Performance Systems) |
Abstract: Arthur Whimbey started his career with successful trade book titled Intelligence Can Be Taught, which flew in the face of the predominant notion at the time that a person’s tested IQ is set and cannot be affected by instruction. However, the warm reception was not repeated when he produced separate works that challenged modern thought in reading and writing instruction. A keen insight and analysis of the behaviors that humans engage in during the demonstrated mastery of such skills, and a careful sequencing and design of instruction led to some of the most effective, yet sparsely accepted, programs and methods ever produced. However, under the pressure of No Child Left Behind and the new emphasis on testing that accompanies it, Dr. Whimbey’s work is being discovered and used by teachers and administrators nationwide. |
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Knowledge Management and Virtual Teams: Helping Performance Analysts and Other Workers to Perform Well |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Joliet (3rd floor) |
Area: OBM; Domain: Theory |
Chair: Joseph R. Sasson (Florida State University) |
Discussant: Donald A. Hantula (Temple University) |
Abstract: This symposium will focus on Knowledge Management (KM). The first presentation will provide a behavioral perspective of KM along with high-level review of how to design a performance-based KM system and data from one such implementation. The second presentation will present a KM system that has been designed to support performance analysts and to encourage collaboration (via virtual teams) and knowledge reuse in performance improvement endeavors. The third presentation will focus on issues concerning virtual teams (e.g., trust) and virtual team success in comparison to in-vivo teams, using theories of media compensation to explain changes in human operant and verbal behavior. |
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A Performance-Based Knowledge Management System: A Study and its Results |
JACALYN S. SMELTZER (Western Michigan University) |
Abstract: This presentation will review the results of a study in which a performance-based knowledge management system (KMS) was designed for a small business in the professional services industry. A mixed methods research design including repeated measures of independent groups was used for the study. Highlights from the study will be reviewed, including: 1) A high-level description of how to design a performance-based KMS, 2) A behavior-analytic interpretation of many concepts in knowledge management, and 3) A brief review of the types of data collected.Performance results indicated a significant increase in the frequency of performers creating a particular work product that was supported by a knowledge item in the knowledge base after the KMS implementation, for one of the two subject groups (chi-square for independence test), and a significant improvement in the similarity of a particular work product to the expected attributes of that work product based on a supporting knowledge item in the knowledge base after the KMS implementation for both subject groups (t-tests for independent samples). |
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Net-Centric Performance Improvement: Promoting Collaboration and Information Reuse in Performance Improvement |
JOSEPH R. SASSON (Florida State University), Ian Douglas (Florida State University) |
Abstract: A way to improve the effectiveness of the performance improvement process in large organizations (and across organizations) is Net-Centric Performance Improvement (Net-PI). The Net-PI components provide a means of aligning all levels of the organization, collaborating for performance improvement (PI) purposes, promoting the reuse of information, and documenting the rationale for decisions made throughout the PI process. The Net-PI prototype (which is research based and not a commercially available product) and its benefits will be presented. Attendees will learn about the future of performance analysis software that performance analysts can use to analyze performance problems and develop solutions in an effective manner with the collaboration of stakeholders all over the world. |
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Explaining Adaptation and Performance in Virtual Teams: Media Compensation Theory |
DONALD A. HANTULA (Temple University), Ned Kock (Texas A&M University), Darleen DeRosa (Right Management Consultants), John D'Arcy (Temple University) |
Abstract: This paper proceeds from the paradox that virtual teams are generally successful, sometimes even outperforming face-to- face teams in spite of much theory that predicts the opposite. We review theories that have previously been used to explain behavior toward electronic communication media, highlighting a theoretical gap, which is filled with a new adaptive perspective called media compensation theory. Eight theoretical principles are discussed – media naturalness, innate schema similarity, learned schema variety, evolutionary task relevance, compensatory adaptation, media humanness, cue removal, and speech imperative. Those principles are then used as a basis for a discussion of the impact that different media have on virtual teams. Empirical evidence in connection with studies of idea generation, problem solving, and business process redesign tasks are reviewed. The evidence provides support for the framework proposed, and a future research agenda in virtual teams from a media compensation perspective. |
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Methodological Issues in Applied Behavior Analysis |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Stevens 1 (Lower Level) |
Area: DDA; Domain: Applied Research |
Chair: SungWoo Kahng (Kennedy Krieger Institute) |
CE Instructor: SungWoo Kahng, Ph.D. |
Abstract: As the field of behavior analysis continues to grow, there continues to be an increasing need for the refinement and continued evaluation of behavior analytic methodology. Four presentations will cover a range of methodological issues as they relate to applied behavior analysis. The first presentation examines a novel method for measuring injuries as a dependent measure, which may be important for the assessment and treatment of severe self-injurious behavior. The second involves using behavior analysts to evaluate whether or not baseline data would allow for adequate comparisons between baseline and post-training when evaluating foster care displacement data. The third reexamines the consistency of visual inspection of single-case data, which is the primary method of data analysis in applied behavior analysis. The final presentation is an examination of four common methods for calculating interobserver agreement, which is a part of nearly all published single-case studies. |
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Comparative Analysis of Product Measures of Self-Injurious Behavior |
DAVID M. WILSON (University of Florida), Brian A. Iwata (University of Florida), Sarah E. Bloom (University of Florida) |
Abstract: We evaluated the utility of an inexpensive, efficient, and noninvasive technique for measuring the severity of tissue damage produced by self-injurious behavior (SIB). The technique used digital photographs of wounds and computer software to obtain surface- area measurements of wounds. In Study 1, the digital photograph/computer assisted technique was compared to a transparency-based technique in estimating the size of several models of wounds that varied in shape and size. In Study 2, the digital photograph/computer assisted technique was used to document changes over time in the SIB exhibited by a woman diagnosed with Prader-Willi Syndrome, as evidenced by changes in wound surface area (WSA). WSA was used as the primary dependent variable, and treatment contingencies were placed on changes in WSA. |
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Methods to Analyze Placement Disruptions Experienced by Foster Parents and Foster Children |
CAROLE M. VAN CAMP (University of Florida), Timothy R. Vollmer (University of Florida) |
Abstract: The Behavior Analysis Services Program provides behavioral parent training, as well as individualized assessments and interventions, designed to reduce the frequency of placement disruptions (i.e., the removal of a foster child from one home to another) experienced by foster children and foster parents living in the state of Florida. This study employed various methods to evaluate placement disruptions. First, factors associated with higher or lower risk of experiencing placement disruptions were identified, and included both child and parent characteristics. Risk ratios were calculated by dividing the conditional probability of placement disruptions given a certain factor (i.e., a gender of male) by the unconditional probability of placement disruptions across the entire sample. Second, baseline (i.e. pre-training) levels of placement disruptions experienced by foster parents were evaluated for appropriateness for inclusion in a subsequent analysis of training effectiveness. Specifically, baseline levels of placement disruptions were deemed suitable for inclusion in a treatment analysis if a panel of “expert” behavior analysts agreed that the data paths would allow for a comparison between baseline levels of disruptions and post-training levels of disruptions. Implications for behavioral research on the assessment of placement disruptions experienced by those involved in child welfare will be discussed. |
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Inconsistent Visual Analyses of Intrasubject Data Revisted |
KATHARINE GUTSHALL (University of Maryland, Baltimore County), SungWoo Kahng (Kennedy Krieger Institute), Iser Guillermo DeLeon (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine), Kyong-Mee Chung (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine), Joyce Kao (University of Maryland, Baltimore County), Kelli Wheeler (University of Maryland, Baltimore County), Tiffany M. Reid (University of Maryland, Baltimore County), Jennifer Boensch (University of Maryland, Baltimore County) |
Abstract: We conducted a replication and extension of DeProspero and Cohen (1979) examining the consistency of visual analyses in the analysis of single-case data. In experiment 1, we solicited feedback from members of the Board of Editors of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. They were asked to rate the demonstration of experimental control of single-case graphs using a 0 (no control) to 100 (control) scale as well as a yes/no scale. The results from this experiment showed consistency using the yes/no scale. Experiment 2 used graduate students to rate whether or not the graphs demonstrated experimental control using the 0 to 100 scale. These data showed that graduate students tended to be more conservative in their estimates of experimental control. |
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Influences of Calculation Method and Response Rate on Interobserver Agreement Scores |
NATALIE ROLIDER (University of Florida), Brian A. Iwata (University of Florida) |
Abstract: We compared four commonly used methods for calculating observer reliability: total, interval, exact, and proportional agreement. Trained observers used PDAs to record computer-generated session data appearing on a separate computer screen. Two target events (responses) were programmed to occur at different rates (low, moderate, high) during each session so that reliability could be compared across a range of values. Interobserver agreement was calculated using each the four methods listed above. Exact agreement yielded the most conservative results, especially for high-rate responding, but proportional agreement was the most representative. |
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Models of Teaching Verbal Behavior Across Settings: Home, School, and Clinic |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Stevens 5 (Lower Level) |
Area: AUT; Domain: Service Delivery |
Chair: Kelly Kates-McElrath (Bucks County Schools Intermediate Unit #22 and Temple University) |
Discussant: Philip N. Hineline (Temple University) |
Abstract: Teaching children with autism who tend to be language-deficient the verbal behavior necessary to effectively commuicate and interact socially has become the focus of an increasing number of home-based and school-based programs. With the introduction of clinical settings providing this type of service, parents have access to additional resources and supports. Dependent on the setting, service delivery may vary. |
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Teaching Verbal Behavior in School-Based Settings |
KIM STUNKARD (Council Rock School District) |
Abstract: Determining an appropriate educational environment involves the members of a multidisciplinary team collaboratively executing the tasks that are aligned in a process of securing an appropriate educational environment. The aspects of a student’s individualized education program necessitate the need for the team to examine and review the existing features in the variety of special and regular education classrooms/ environments available to the school district. Recommended educational placements possess features that are conducive to providing the educational opportunities that will ensure student progress.It is often a difficult task to locate an appropriate educational program for a student with autism or other developmental disability. School districts possess the capability of providing educational programs that meet students’ needs. Classrooms, within the school district, can be arranged to provide more intensive and individualized programming. Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis on Verbal Behavior offers an approach to instruction that ensures acquisition or reduction of target behaviors. Intensive individualized school-based programs utilizing the approach may provide a forum in which to meet students’ needs while ensuring a free and appropriate PUBLIC education. |
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Teaching Verbal Behavior in Home-Based Settings |
KATRINA L. MELLOTT (POAC) |
Abstract: Skinner’s analysis of language, 1957, has been the foundation for many Applied Behavior Analysis programs for children with autism and other developmental delays. The Verbal Behavior model can be used in different settings. This paper emphasizes the effectiveness and efficiency of teaching Verbal Behavior in the home setting. The VB home program can run independently or in concurrence with a school or clinic program. The home-based model is ideal for response and stimulus generalization to occur across settings and people. The program is supervised by the parents and overseen by a verbal behavior consultant; therefore trainings for the therapists should be provided in the home by the consultant or achieved through professional workshops. The verbal behavior model in the home is a program that teaches and maintains skills the child will learn and use throughout their life. |
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Teaching Verbal Behavior in Clinical Settings |
LEIGH MARIANO (Carbone Clinic) |
Abstract: Children with autism and related disabilities are consistently and constantly being pushed from one treatment to another. These children are unable to find a consistent balance in a treatment that proves to be effective. Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in Verbal Behavior has proven to be a comprehensive combination of skill set areas that aid to the future development in children with autism and related disabilities. Amongst its peers Verbal Behavior stems to be a treatment area with little or no empirical basis for its credibility and is therefore seen as a treatment only implemental in a home environment. Although Verbal Behavior is generally implemented within a home based program, with the proper funding and training these techniques have proven to be effective in a clinical setting. With an empirical base and the proper quality control a clinical setting can functionally serve as a beneficial resource for the treatment of children with autism and related disabilities. |
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Perfecting the “Two-Step”: Supporting Staff in Providing Quality Lifestyles for Persons with Severe Disabilities |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Stevens 2 (Lower Level) |
Area: DDA; Domain: Service Delivery |
Chair: Jamie D. Price (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.) |
Discussant: Michael C. Strouse (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.) |
CE Instructor: Diane Bannerman Juracek, Ph.D. |
Abstract: In the context of his chapter entitled “Get a Life” (Koegel, Koegel & Dunlap, 1996), Todd Risley discussed the importance of “durable dance partners” for people with developmental disabilities. “Durable dance partners” are long-term, reliable support providers who build positive relationships, provide consistent treatment, and facilitate a high quality of life for those they support. This symposium describes three studies that show how these partnerships can be facilitated to produce positive outcomes for persons served. The first presentation examines how the satisfaction of people with severe disabilities can be assessed and how positive outcomes can be produced by increasing the satisfaction of live-in care providers through the use of a family “Quality of Life Plan”. The second presentation compares teacher interactions, person served rates of engagement, problem behavior, and preferred activities across two different models of day services. Finally, the third presentation focuses on the challenge of supporting staff implementation of a rigorous behavior support plan to address extreme self-injury and parasuicidal behavior. |
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Joy of the “Dance”: Increasing Quality of Life for People with Disabilities and Their Support Providers |
DIANE BANNERMAN JURACEK (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Holly M. Sweeney (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Jamie D. Price (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Christina M. Holt (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Tammy Rystrom (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Michael C. Strouse (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Jan B. Sheldon (University of Kansas), James A. Sherman (University of Kansas) |
Abstract: Service providers are continually challenged to offer high quality community residential services for people with severe and multiple developmental disabilities. Low pay, lackluster staff satisfaction, and high turnover hinder efforts to provide consistent treatment and build long-term relationships between staff and persons served. In this study, low levels of live-in staff satisfaction (averaging 3.7 on a 1-5 scale where 1 is not at all satisfied and 5 is very satisfied) led to the development and implementation of a “Quality of Life Plan” (QLP) for live-in couples. Satisfaction ratings and other outcomes, (e.g., engagement in high priority family activities) were measured to assess the effects of the QLP. Additionally, a Quality of life satisfaction survey was used to assess person served satisfaction and other outcomes, such as the number of visits to a favorite community venue. |
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Dosie-Doe All Day: Comparing Staff and Person-served Outcomes Across Two-Day Service Models |
JAMES PARA-CREMER (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Diane Bannerman Juracek (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Mahin L. Para-Cremer (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Holly M. Sweeney (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), Michael C. Strouse (Community Living Opportunities, Inc.), James A. Sherman (University of Kansas), Jan B. Sheldon (University of Kansas) |
Abstract: Provision of day services that are engaging and preferred by persons with severe developmental disabilities is a challenge. This study compares teacher interactions and consumer rates of engagement, problem behavior, and preferred activities across two different models of day service. The first model is a center-based model where vocational, leisure, and learning activities are based in a large building with large groups of consumers. The second model provides similar valued day activities with a smaller group of consumers in a smaller community-based setting. Both models include individualized daily schedules and community outings. A consultation process (Harchik, Sherman, Sheldon, & Strouse, 1992), including an inservice, coaching in the natural setting, and a lottery reward system were used to teach staff to actively engage consumers in their scheduled activities. Pilot data show that the consultation process paired with a lottery incentive system resulted in an increase in the average number of correctly completed steps from 60% to 97%. Additional data, including teacher and consumer satisfaction ratings will be presented. |
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Supporting Staff in the Treatment of Severe Self Injurious/Parasuicidal Behavior: Behavioral and PRN Medication Interventions |
CHRISTINE M. MAGEE (The May Institute), James M. Sperry (The May Institute) |
Abstract: The following is a data-based case study in the treatment of serious self-injurious/parasuicidal behavior using psychiatric hospitalizations as a measure. The participant is a 38 year old male with a diagnosis of Mild Mental Retardation, Depression with Psychotic Features, and Borderline Personality Disorder. The participant has a long history of self-injury/parasuicdal behavior resulting in the need for medical attention and psychiatric hospitalization. The behavior was effectively managed in a more restrictive residential setting for a number of years with no hospitalizations. The participant’s stability was jeopardized upon moving to a less restrictive setting and the need for psychiatric hospitalization reoccurred. Efforts to return the participant to the more restrictive setting proved ineffective and after a life threatening episode of the behavior the use of PRN medication became necessary to assure the participant’s safety in the residential setting. In addition, staff required specialized support to provide this individualized community based programming. Ongoing staff performance as well as access to the PRN medication are closely monitored and has resulted in a decrease in the frequency of severe self-injurious/parasuicidal behavior and psychiatric hospitalization. |
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Recent Advances in Safety Skills Training: Abduction, Sexual Abuse, and Firearm Injury Prevention Skills |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Williford A (3rd floor) |
Area: CBM; Domain: Applied Research |
Chair: Raymond G. Miltenberger (North Dakota State University) |
CE Instructor: Raymond G. Miltenberger, Ph.D. |
Abstract: The four papers in this symposium will present recent research on teaching safety skills to children and individuals with mental retardation. The first paper describes research comparing two procedures for teaching abduction prevention skills to children. The second paper describes a study evaluating behavioral skills training for teaching sexual abuse prevention skills to women with mental retardation. The third paper compares two procedures for teaching skills to children to prevent gun play and the fourth paper evaluates peer training for teaching skills to children to prevent gun play. |
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A Comparison of Two Behavioral Skills Training Procedures for Teaching Abduction Prevention Skills to School-Age Children |
BRIGITTE M. JOHNSON (University of Iowa), Raymond G. Miltenberger (North Dakota State University), Peter J. Knudson (North Dakota State University), Kristin Egemo-Helm (North Dakota State University), Linda K. Langley (North Dakota State University) |
Abstract: Although child abduction is a low rate event, it presents a serious threat to the safety of children. The victims of child abduction face the threat of physical and emotional injury, sexual abuse, and death. Previous research has shown that behavioral skills training (BST) is effective in teaching children abduction prevention skills although not all children learn the skills. This study compared BST only to BST with an added in-situ training component in teaching abduction prevention skills in a small-group format to school-aged children. Results showed that both programs were effective in teaching abduction prevention skills. In addition, the scores for the group receiving in situ training were significantly higher than scores for the group receiving BST alone at the 3 month follow-up assessment. |
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Evaluation of a Behavioral Skills Training Program to Teach Sexual Abuse Prevention to Women with Mental Retardation |
KRISTIN EGEMO-HELM (North Dakota State University), Raymond G. Miltenberger (North Dakota State University), Peter J. Knudson (North Dakota State University), Nicholas Finstrom (North Dakota State University), Candice Jostad (North Dakota State University), Brigitte M. Johnson (University of Iowa) |
Abstract: The current study evaluated a behavioral skills training (BST) program in combination with in-situ training to teach sexual abuse prevention skills to 5 women with mild to moderate mental retardation. In-situ assessments were conducted following BST, and in-situ training sessions were conducted for those who were unable to demonstrate the skills in the natural setting. The results showed that generalization of the safety skills to the natural setting occurred for three of the five participants following one to two in-situ training sessions. One participant required twelve in-situ training sessions and three booster training sessions to reach criterion level. Three of four participants assessed one month following training maintained the skills to criterion levels. |
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A Comparison of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program and Behavioral Skills Training for Teaching Skills to Prevent Gun Play |
PAMELA D. KELSO (University of Manitoba), Raymond G. Miltenberger (North Dakota State University), Marit Waters (North Dakota State University), Kristin Egemo-Helm (North Dakota State University), Angela Bagne (North Dakota State University) |
Abstract: The effectiveness of the Eddie Eagle GunSafe Program, Level Two was compared to a Behavioral Skills Training (BST) procedure. Self-report, role-play, and in-situ assessments were used to evaluate the procedures in a posttest only control group design. Those children not demonstrating the target skills after training received an in-situ training session. Results indicated both programs were successful in promoting verbal report of the desired safety skills, however no differences were observed between training conditions as measured by role-play and in-situ assessments. However, the BST procedure was superior to the control condition on the role-play measure. Furthermore, the majority of the participants displayed the target behaviors following an additional in-situ training session and both the BST and Eddie Eagle group differed significantly from the control group at the second in-situ assessment. |
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Firearm Injury Prevention Skills: Increasing the Efficiency of Training with Peer Tutoring |
CANDICE JOSTAD (North Dakota State University), Raymond G. Miltenberger (North Dakota State University), Pamela D. Kelso (University of Manitoba), Peter J. Knudson (North Dakota State University) |
Abstract: Gun play results in hundreds of childhood deaths and injuries each year in the United States. Behavioral Skills Training (BST) is used to teach children the skills needed to resist gun play when finding a firearm. Although effective, existing BST programs are time and resource intensive and therefore lack the efficiency required to be widely utilized. The current study examined the use of peers as tutors to decrease the time and resources needed to teach these safety skills to youngsters. Peer trainers conducted BST sessions and in-situ training with other children. Children taught by the peer trainers acquired the safety skills and demonstrated maintenance of those skills at follow-up. Furthermore, all of the peer trainers acquired and maintained the skills. These results support the use of peer tutoring to increase the efficiency and adoptability of BST programs. |
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Supporting and Evaluating Implementation of Positive Behavior Support for At-Risk Students, School and States |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Williford C (3rd floor) |
Area: EDC; Domain: Service Delivery |
Chair: Emma J. Martin (University of Oregon) |
Discussant: Teri Lewis-Palmer (University of Oregon) |
Abstract: Supporting students with problem behavior continues to challenge public schools. Additionally, the recent re-authorization of IDEA requires schools to provide positive behavior support and to conduct functional behavior assessments. Combined with decreasing resources schools require strategies and systems that are both effective and efficient. While several schools are participating in school-wide discipline project, the primary focus on these projects has been to build a foundation for specialized support. One emerging practice is applying research-based strategies with targeted groups of students. By adopting this approach schools are able to support 20-40 students with function-based but similar support thereby increasing the efficiency of their efforts. Another is to focus on establishing state-wide systems that support multiple schools to increase sustainability of efforts. The purpose of this session is to provide examples of three different approaches to positive behavior support. |
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Preventing Problem Behavior School-Wide with the Behavior Education Program: A Review of Research and Practical Implications |
LEANNE HAWKEN (University of Utah), Katherine S. MacCleod (University of Utah) |
Abstract: To prevent severe problem behavior, schools should implement a continuum of effective behavior support which includes universal school-wide procedures, targeted procedures for students at-risk, and intensive individualized procedures. Much of the literature summarizes implementation strategies for the universal and individual levels of support but few examples have been provided on how to implement targeted interventions for students at-risk but not currently engaging in severe problem behavior. A review of the research on one type of targeted intervention, the Behavior Education Program (BEP) will be presented including the effects of the BEP on office discipline referrals for both middle and elementary school students as well as the effects on direct observation of classroom problem behavior and academic engagement. Fidelity of treatment and social validity data will also be summarized. The review of the research provides evidence for the inclusion of the BEP as part of a school’s system of behavior support. Practical information will be included in the presentation for educators and researchers interested in implementing the BEP. Key Words: targeted intervention, secondary level prevention, school-wide behavior support, positive behavior support. |
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Program Evaluation of the Alabama School-Wide Positive Behavioral Support Implementation |
MACK BURKE (University of Georgia), Shanna Hagan-Burke (University of Georgia), Tracy L. Blankenship (University of Georgia) |
Abstract: States across the nation are witnessing students entering school who are culturally, economically, socially, and academically, more different than similar to one another. Many of these learners are exposed to cultural, familial, and community risk factors that place them at-risk for developing antisocial behavior patterns. To address the social-behavioral issues presented by children from diverse backgrounds that place them at great behavioral risk-effective and efficient prevention and intervention approaches must be identified and implemented to (a) prevent the occurrence and development antisocial behaviors and (b) respond early and proactively to the needs of children and youth who currently display such behavior. The purpose of this presentation is to provide results from four cohorts of schools who are implementing School-Wide Positive Behavioral Support in the state of Alabama. Results from (a) office discipline referrals, (b) Effective Behavioral Support Survey, (c) School-Wide Evaluation Tool, and the (d) Stanford 10 Achievement Test will be reviewed and discussed.Key words: Anti-social behavior, school-wide behavior support, office discipline referrals |
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Evaluating the Effectiveness of School-wide Positive Behavior Support in Urban Schools |
KIMBERLY S. THIER (The May Institute), Marcie W. Handler (The May Institute), Robert F. Putnam (The May Institute) |
Abstract: Schools continue to struggle with supporting all students within the school academic and social needs. While establishing a school-wide foundation is critical, schools must consider the role that classroom instruction and management have on student success. This presentation discusses nine schools, in one urban school district, that received training and consultation in positive behavior support across school-wide and classroom-wide systems. Fidelity of implementation data were collected for critical school-wide and classroom-wide variables. Student academic (i.e., on-task, academic achievement) and behavioral (i.e., ODR, ISS/OSS) outcome data for all nine schools will be discussed. Furthermore, implications and recommendations related to administrative and district support will be discussed.Key words: Classroom management, office discipline referrals, academic achievement, |
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Teaching Applied Behavior Analysis: State Dependent Learning, Memory, and Issues Concerning Supervision |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Lake Erie (8th floor) |
Area: TBA; Domain: Service Delivery |
Chair: Diane Raymond (Simmons College) |
Discussant: Michael J. Cameron (Simmons College) |
CE Instructor: Susan Ainsleigh, Ed.D. |
Abstract: A successful behavior analytic graduate program requires that professors respond to the individualized learning needs of graduate students, both in classroom and supervised learning environments. Varying levels of experience in the field of applied behavior analysis and differing learning styles result in the need to develop instructional models to support graduate students who present with unique needs. In addition, careful attention to target environments of eventual practice is required to ensure that generalization occurs; in other words, that students acquire the unique skills they will need to perform effectively in future predicted stressful environments. This symposium presents a graduate behavioral education program’s responses to several unique learning challenges: the support of a student with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), the use of pedagogy that fosters generalization of learning in multiple contexts, and the design and evaluation of a supervised experiential learning program that supports students with varying backgrounds, levels of expertise, and research interests. |
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The Application of State Dependant Learning and Generalization Models to the Training of a Successful Behavior Analyst |
ALLAN BLUME (Simmons College), Michael F. Dorsey (Simmons College) |
Abstract: The first step in defining the successful training of a graduate student in the principals of applied behavior analysis lies in his/her ability to successfully pass the Behavior Analysis Certification Board examination. Other defining characteristics include their ability to apply the knowledge and skills they acquired during their educational experience within the work environments in which they eventually will attempt to practice their profession. This paper will provide a data based review of the various environmental conditions in operation within these situations and the systematic design and application of multiple pedagogies in the training of students relative to a state dependant/generalization model. Specific focus will be paid to the more stressful environmental variables that will challenge a successful student and how, as educators, we can adapt our teaching styles to offer students the skills necessary to overcome the deleterious effects of these challenges and overcome barriers that may otherwise render a well trained student ineffective in their practice. |
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Visual and Auditory Memory: Implications for Graduate Students Studying Behavior Analysis |
MICHAEL J. CAMERON (Simmons College), Errion L. Turner (Simmons College) |
Abstract: Professors teaching in behavior analytic graduate programs areconfronted each semester with a heterogeneous group of students. Some students rapidly acquire the basic principles of applied behavior analysis while others require a significant amountof repetition before learning. Although there may be varying reasons for a large discrepancy in the number of trials to criterion performance, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can certainly be implicated for some students. When a professor attempts to assist such a student, a knowledge-base of different types of memory is extremely helpful. For example, visual memory concerns a person’s ability to remember what has been seen while auditory memory concern’s a person’s ability to remember what has been heard. The “picture superiority effect” suggests that we have better memory for pictures than words. In fact, Paivio (1991) suggests that dual decoding pictures are better remembered because they are encoded with two specific codes (pictorial and verbal) while words access just a single code (verbal). The extra code associated with pictures appears to give learners an advantage during retrieval. A graduate student with a TBI participated in this study. The study was initiated due to her limited ability to retain verbal information. The participate was taught how to create pictures out of each of the line items on the Behavior Analytic Certification Board ® Task List. The participant subsequently created her own pictures for each of the line items and studied both pictures and descriptions. The results of this study showed that the participant learned all items on the task list, made complex linkages and connections to other sections of the task list, retained the information, and demonstrated correct answer latencies that were comparable to her peers without a TBI. The implications of an understanding of verbal and auditory memory are discussed. |
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Evaluation of a Supervised Experiential Learning Program for Graduate Behavioral Education Students |
SUSAN AINSLEIGH (Simmons College) |
Abstract: This case study evaluates the experiential learning component of a graduate program in behavioral education using the framework of the CIPP program evaluation model (Stufflebeam, 1987) as a guide. Using archival record review, document review, interview of participants from a graduate behavioral education program, and interview of independent experts in the field of applied behavior analysis, a detailed portrait of the supervised, experiential learning component of a graduate-level behavioral education program is provided. The results of this study describe the intended outcomes of experiential learning in the field of applied behavior analysis, outline recommended procedures for developing and implementing a supervised, graduate-level experiential learning program, and describe the necessary components for evaluating the impact of supervision and experiential learning on the performance of future behavior analysts and educators. |
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The Formation of Generalized Response Classes in Children with Autism: Discussion, Analysis and Implications |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Waldorf (3rd floor) |
Area: TPC; Domain: Applied Research |
Chair: John C. Barnard (Educational Services Unit, Burlington County Special Services School District) |
Discussant: Nicholas M. Berens (Center for Advanced Learning) |
Abstract: Curriculum development in early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for young children with autism is a specialized area that requires careful analysis and sequencing in order to build a complex repertoire of language and cognitive skills. Given the complexity of some of these behavioral repertoires, an analysis of curriculum sequences within effective EIBI can occur at many levels. This symposium will approach this task by looking at the possible role of individual learning trials towards the development of higher order, or generalized, response classes. Established EIBI curriculum sequences will be reviewed in accordance with relational frame theory (RFT) with an emphasis on specifying potential controlling variables employed in the development of generalized response classes. Key elements of RFT will also be applied to proposed curricular sequences whereby the specific application of multiple exemplar training with an emphasis on derived relational responding may yield a greater understanding of hierarchical skill-building and the development of multiple concurrent repertoires. It will be proposed that this type of curricular analysis could allow for increased research opportunities for applied clinicians and potential research questions will be discussed. |
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Relational Frame Theory and Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention for Autistic Spectrum Disorder |
JOHN D. MCELWEE (Step By Step Academy) |
Abstract: Relational Frame Theory (RFT) is a modern behavior analytic account of verbal behavior and cognition. This presentation will introduce participants to the conceptual and procedural tools of this theory. Relational operants are viewed as central to the development of verbal behavior and the ability to derive relations between stimuli. And this higher order operant is proposed as the means by which this skill is developed with arbitrary relational responding hypothesized as the core competence involved in developing verbal behavior. This presentation will discuss the implications of RFT towards early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) with an analysis of the components needed to perform relational/conditional discriminations. A review of existing curricula employed during EIBI will be conducted, with an emphasis on the Assessment of Basic Language and Learner Skills (ABLLS), in order to identify overlaps with RFT. The implications towards performance standards for skills, instructional protocols, and curriculum development will be shown with specific examples of precision teaching tools highlighted throughout this presentation. |
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A Proposition Towards Improved Curriculum Design: Emphasizing Multiple Bi-Directional Relations Within Hierarchical Skill Acquisition |
JOHN C. BARNARD (Educational Services Unit, Burlington County Special Services School District), Thomas J. Waltz (University of Nevada, Reno) |
Abstract: Within many behavior analytic approaches to curriculum development there appears to be an emphasis on the development of smaller, discrete units of behavior sometimes at the expense of a detailed analysis of the creation of larger, higher order behavioral classes. These generalized response classes may be discussed “after the fact” but typically not in terms of planned programming and usually only in the explanatory terms of response or stimulus generalization. This presentation will break down specific repertoire assumptions within trained and derived relations and propose a coordinated curriculum sequence that better accounts for the development of higher order behavioral classes. Hierarchical program sequencing will be discussed in terms of the concurrent training of multiple repertoires via specific program sequences and an emphasis on multiple exemplar training from the onset of intervention. Mutually entailed derived relations will also be discussed along with the differences between the development of selection-based verses topography-based repertoires. |
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Developing a Research Program for Tracking the Acquisition of Relational and Other Large Operants |
THOMAS J. WALTZ (University of Nevada, Reno), Claudia Cardinal (University of Nevada, Reno), John C. Barnard (Educational Services Unit, Burlington County Special Services School District), Philip L. Concors (Devereux Consultants) |
Abstract: The number of 1:1 instructional hours involved in early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for autism generates a significant amount of raw data. The individualized nature of these interventions, however, makes it difficult for applied clinicians in EIBI to utilize certain traditional experimental models for behavioral research. Multiple exemplar training, for example, generates data that could potentially clarify many of the fundamental questions regarding how relational and other large operants are acquired and how they are most efficiently trained. This presentation will focus on building an alliance between applied behavior analysts and basic researchers in order to better answer basic questions in applied settings. Suggestions will be made for a) selecting curriculum sequences for investigation, b) developing efficient data recording techniques to capture the larger units of behavior, c) establishing data analysis procedures, and d) maximizing collaborative efforts. |
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The Role of Values in a Science Driven Technology |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Lake Huron (8th floor) |
Area: CSE/TPC; Domain: Theory |
Chair: Maria R. Ruiz (Rollins College) |
CE Instructor: Maria R. Ruiz, Ph.D. |
Panelists: JAMES M. JOHNSTON (Auburn University), JUDITH E. FAVELL (AdvoServ), GINA GREEN (San Diego State University), SIGRID S. GLENN (University of North Texas) |
Abstract: Values can be seen as bits of verbal behavior that specify or imply contingencies governing the behavior of the individual or group espousing those values. Like other disciplines, behavior analysis has certain values, which influence and are influenced by societal and cultural values. Applied behavior analysis has a long history of addressing issues associated with cultural values, particularly through its involvement in the area of developmental disabilities including normalization, respect for the individual, social validation, least restrictive alternative, dignity, inclusion, self-determination, participation, and person-centeredness, among others. Our values may conflict with one another. These conflicts may remain at the level of an individual but often the conflict pits “good” for one individual against “good” for others; or “good” for now against “good” in the future; or “good” for our culture against “good” for the biosphere. Science-driven technologies make possible new “goods” but in the process increase the possibility for conflicting goods. The overarching values of behavior analysis are scientific ones. The challenge for applied behavior analysis is how to integrate cultural values with scientific values such as effectiveness – the standard by which we judge research literature and behavior change procedures – without sacrificing the scientific foundation that makes our technology effective. |
JAMES M. JOHNSTON (Auburn University) |
Dr. Johnston received his doctorate from the University of Florida in 1970 and is professor of Psychology at Auburn University. He has conducted both laboratory and field research with both human and non-human species on a variety of topics, ranging from rumination to canine olfaction, most recently serving as Director of Behavioral Research for the Institute for Biological Detection Systems. His present activities focus on longstanding interests in the area of developmental disabilities. He serves as director of the Department of Psychology’s Master’s Program in Applied Behavior Analysis in Developmental Disabilities and has for some years been involved with the Alabama Department of Mental health and Mental Retardation in facilitating the statewide delivery of sound habilitative services, following similar involvement in Florida’s mental retardation system while on the faculty of the University of Florida from 1975-1985. He has served as editor of The Behavior Analyst and on the editorial boards of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, among others. He has also served as president of the Association for Behavior Analysis, as well as for the Florida, Alabama, and Southeastern affiliate chapters of the Association, and is currently president of the Behavior Analysis Certification Board. In addition to authoring numerous journal and technical publications, he has co-authored a text in research methods for studying behavior, now in a two-volume second edition, and has additional teaching interests in applied behavior analysis and in conceptual issues in the study of behavior. |
JUDITH E. FAVELL (AdvoServ) |
Judith E. Favell is CEO of AdvoServ, a multi-state network of treatment programs for children and adults with developmental and emotional challenges. Dr. Favell received her bachelor's degree in psychology from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1966, and earned her Ph.D. in developmental and child psychology from the University of Kansas in 1970. Throughout her career as a clinician, researcher, teacher, lecturer and administrator, she has focused on the understanding and treatment of serious behavior disorders, such as self-injurious and aggressive behavior in individuals with autism. Her work has encompassed not only clinical domains, but also organizational, regulatory, legal and policy issues, for example through testifying, chairing national task forces, serving as expert witness and writing guidelines and policies governing treatment in developmental disabilities.
Dr. Favell has authored numerous articles, monographs, chapters and books, edited a leading journal and several newsletters, and served on the editorial boards of many others. She has presented extensively both nationally and internationally on topics ranging from innovations in treatment to utilization of video technology with vulnerable and dependent populations. Her offices have included President of the International Association for Behavior Analysis and President of the American Psychological Association's Division on Developmental Disabilities. |
GINA GREEN (San Diego State University) |
Gina Green received a PhD in Psychology (Analysis of Behavior) from Utah State University in 1986 following undergraduate and master’s degree studies at Michigan State University. She has been a faculty member in Behavior Analysis and Therapy at Southern Illinois University; Director of Research at the New England Center for Children in Southborough, Massachusetts; Associate Scientist at the E.K. Shriver Center for Mental Retardation in Waltham, Massachusetts; and Research Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School. Dr. Green is currently in private practice in San Diego as a consultant and is on the faculty at San Diego State University and the University of North Texas. She has authored numerous publications on the treatment of individuals with developmental disabilities and brain injuries, as well as the experimental analysis of behavior. Dr. Green co-edited the books Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Autism and Making a Difference: Behavioral Intervention for Autism. She serves or has served on the editorial boards of several professional journals in developmental disabilities and behavior analysis. Dr. Green also serves on the Board of Trustees and the Autism Advisory Group of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, the Board of Directors of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, the Board of Directors of the California Association for Behavior Analysis, and the advisory boards of several autism programs and organizations. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, former president of the Association for Behavior Analysis, and a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Council for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health. Psychology Today named her “Mental Health Professional of the Year” in 2000. Dr. Green lectures and consults widely on autism and related disorders, behavioral research, and effective interventions for people with disabilities. |
SIGRID S. GLENN (University of North Texas) |
Sigrid Glenn is Regents Professor of Behavior Analysis and was the founding chair of the Department of Behavior Analysis at UNT. She is a past president of ABA. Her published work includes empirical and theoretical journal articles, book chapters, and books, some of which is widely cited in publications of many different disciplines. |
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Theories of Autism |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Continental C (1st floor) |
Area: AUT |
Chair: Philip W. Drash (Autism Early Intervention & Prevention Center) |
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Exploratory Studies in the Prevention of Autism: An Analysis of Four Successful Cases |
Domain: Theory |
PHILIP W. DRASH (Autism Early Intervention & Prevention Center), Roger M. Tudor (Westfield State College) |
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Abstract: Based on our recently published analysis of autism as a contingency-shaped disorder of verbal behavior in The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, it appears that behavior analysis may now be in a position to answer one of the more challenging questions of autism professionals and parent advocates, "How can autism be prevented?" This presentation will analyze four successful cases in the prevention of autism. The subjects were young children who were originally at high risk for autism. All four children achieved complete recovery. In one case the intervention was minimal. In all cases the intervention was substantially less than required for intensive ABA in-home therapy. The children initially ranged in age from 17 months to 2 years, 10 months. Each case represents a different aspect of the continuum of prevention in autism.This paper will present the methods of intervention used and will discuss how the intervention procedures relate to a behavioral theory of the etiology and prevention of autism. |
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An Operant/Respondent Theory of Autism |
Domain: Theory |
SVEIN EIKESETH (Akershus University College) |
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Abstract: This paper examines the possibility that abnormal reinforcement and respondent mechanisms are responsible for some of the behaviors displayed by individuals with autism. Typically, sensory stimuli have a powerful effect on (the behaviors of) children with autism, as shown when they demonstrate hyper- or hypo sensitivity to sounds, smell, touch, pain, etc., or when they exhibit high rates of self-stimulatory behaviors such as gazing, rocking, spinning, lining objects, looking at videos, etc. It is suggested that some sensory stimuli have extreme reinforcing and eliciting properties whereas other sensory stimuli have extreme aversive properties. If so, individuals with autism may spend most of their time attempting to avoid or escape aversive sensory stimulation and to maximize access to reinforcing sensory stimuli. An organism who responds in such a way will exhibit high rates of self-stimulatory behaviors because of the sensory/perceptual reinforcement mechanism underlying such behaviors. Also, because the sensory/perceptual reinforcers are not mediated socially, but rather occur through automatic reinforcement, communication and social skills are virtually nonfunctional for the organism. This may explain the social and communicative deficits, which together with the display of high rates of stereotyped behavior define autism. |
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A Rationale for Addressing Core Strengths in Autism Intervention |
Domain: Service Delivery |
MARY D. SALMON (The Ohio State University), Diane M. Sainato (The Ohio State University) |
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Abstract: Presenting prior to age 3, autism is a neurobiological disorder considered to be one of the most profound disorders of childhood affecting the manner in which children learn to be social beings, to take care of themselves, and to participate in family and community events. Perhaps, nothing strikes more at the core of a family’s functioning than the birth of a child with a severe disability. For this reason, considerable multidisciplinary attention is focused on the development of effective intervention strategies that yield the most positive changes for the child with autism and for his family, across the lifespan. This presentation will briefly describe the core deficits and concomitant strengths of autism spectrum disorder in reference to the cognitive, social-communicative, and behavioral development of the child. Using empirically validated intervention strategies that build on the child’s existing repertoire of skills while embracing the behavioral assets typically encountered in individuals with autism, an argument for a shift to a strengths-based system of service delivery is proposed. |
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Translational Research Relevant to Discrete-Trial Training Among Children with Autism |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
9:00 AM–10:20 AM |
Continental A (1st floor) |
Area: AUT; Domain: Applied Research |
Chair: Wayne W. Fisher (Marcus Autism Center) |
Discussant: Dorothea C. Lerman (University of Houston-Clear Lake) |
CE Instructor: Wayne W. Fisher, Ph.D. |
Abstract: Basic research focuses on increasing our understanding of general principles of behavior (i.e., why questions), whereas applied research focuses on how specific problems can be resolved or improved (i.e., how to questions). Translational research is a term that is increasingly used to describe research that attempts to link and interrelate basic and applied research. Building such connections can make basic research more relevant to everyday problems. In addition, the precision and generality of applied research is often enhanced when it is informed or derived from basic research and principles. This symposium will feature three examples of translational research relevant to discrete-trials training among children with autism. Athens and Vollmer will present a study in which a common clinical problem, decreased treatment integrity during discrete-trial training, was examined in a human-operant laboratory using college students as participants. Dickson, Wang, and Dube will present data on overselective observing and attending responses in special-education students performing matching-to-sample tasks. Shabani and Fisher will present data on the effects of interspersing previously mastered items during discrete-trial training with children with autism. Finally, Dorothea Lerman will serve as the discussant to integrate the findings of these three presentations into the broad themes of translational research. |
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An Investigation of Treatment Integrity Failures During Discrimination Training |
ELIZABETH S. ATHENS (University of Florida), Timothy R. Vollmer (University of Florida) |
Abstract: Discrete trial training is a commonly used teaching method for children diagnosed with autism. Little attention has been given to methodological issues related to the general procedures. For example, discrete trial training commonly utilizes discrimination training, however little is known about the sensitivity of this training to treatment integrity failures within discrete trial training. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a method of conducting human operant (translational) research on discrimination training and to examine responding during two kinds of treatment integrity failures. A simulated program of a complex discrimination task was developed using Visual Basic computer programming. The program was used to examine responses to arbitrary, novel tasks in a controlled laboratory setting with undergraduate college students as participants. The two kinds of errors evaluated were: a) errors of omission (a reinforcer was not delivered when it was earned), and b) errors of commission (a reinforcer was delivered when it was not earned). The probability of errors of omission and commission were manipulated across several conditions for three groups of five participants. Results for all three groups suggest that errors of commission were more detrimental to learning. Preliminary data for individual subject replications will also be presented. Plans to replicate these procedures with children will be discussed. |
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Effects of Reinforcer Rate on Observing in Restricted Stimulus Control |
CHATA A. DICKSON (E.K. Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts M), Sharon Wang (E.K. Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School), William V. Dube (E.K. Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School) |
Abstract: This paper will present translational research on overselective observing and attending in special-education students performing matching-to-sample tasks. The basic research foundation comes from two areas: research in observing behavior that has shown a relation between stimulus-reinforcer relations and observing preferences, and research in behavioral momentum that has shown a relation between reinforcer rate and behavioral persistence. Our experiments investigate reinforcer-related variables that may affect the flexibility of observing behavior in transition points from less- to more-complex sample stimuli (one- vs. two-element sample stimuli). Observing topographies, measured by eye tracking apparatus, include number and duration of observations. Results show that both overall reinforcer rate and specific stimulus-reinforcer relations may affect observing behavior in matching to sample. |
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The Effects of Interspersal Versus Non-Interspersal Training on Acquisition During Discrete Trial Instruction |
DANIEL B. SHABANI (Marcus Autism Center), Wayne W. Fisher (Marcus Autism Center) |
Abstract: This study incorporated features from a withdrawal and multielement design to compare the effects of interspersal versus noninterpsersal training during discrete trial instruction with three children diagnosed with autism. During interspersal training sessions, previously mastered sight words and numbers were alternated with one novel target word or number. During non-interspersal training sessions, only novel sight words or numbers were presented. After meeting specific mastery criteria, periodic baseline probes were conducted in order to assess the effects of interspersal and non-interspersal training on acquisition rates. Results indicated different rates of acquisition across training procedures. The implications for discrete trial training programs will be discussed. |
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Applied Behavior Analysis: Treatment Prospectives Across the Lifespan of Individuals with Autism |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
10:00 AM–10:50 AM |
Continental B (1st floor) |
Area: AUT; Domain: Service Delivery |
Chair: Anne S. Holmes (Eden Family of Services) |
ANNE S. HOLMES (Eden Family of Services) |
DIANE VANDRIESEN (Eden Family of Services) |
NINA FINKLER (Eden Family of Services) |
Abstract: The use of applied behavior analysis as an effective treatment option for young children with autism has been well documented in professional literature. These treatment options have been incorporated into a variety of settings, i.e., home based programs, private schools, and public schools. All settings noted in the literature include the key elements of intensity of services, 1:1 instruction, data-based accountability, and documented success. The literature falls short in documenting the use of applied behavior analysis for individuals with autism as they age through upper elementary school, middle school, high school, and adulthood. Not only does the scope of ABA techniques need to expand as children age, but the application of techniques in natural settings must be addressed. Learning in ratios beyond 1:1 must be achieved in order for skills to be acquired and, more importantly, mastered. This panel will discuss the issue of effective application of applied behavior analysis for individuals with autism beyond early childhood. |
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Int'l Paper Session - EAB I |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
10:00 AM–10:50 AM |
International South (2nd floor) |
Area: EAB |
Chair: Josele Abreu-Rodrigues (University of Brazil) |
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Variation and Behavioral Sensitivity to Contingency Changes |
Domain: Basic Research |
JOSELE ABREU-RODRIGUES (University of Brazil), Ana A. Baumann (Utah State University), Alessandra Souza (University of Brazil) |
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Abstract: Two studies compared the effects of instructions and self-descriptions, and histories with either a variety of schedules of reinforcement or a single schedule upon behavioral sensitivity. In Experiment 1, during Training, the variable groups were exposed to three schedules (FR, VI, FT), and the specific groups to one schedule (FR). Each one of these two groups was divided into two subgroups. Participants in the self-description groups were asked to indicate the best way to gain points. Their answers were given to participants in the instruction groups. During Testing, all participants were exposed to an FI schedule. Response rates decreased with the FI schedule for the variable groups, and remained unaltered for the specific groups. Experiment 2 asked whether the high sensitivity obtained with the variable groups were due to the exposure to several schedules or to the variable behavior patterns produced by those schedules. For such, the variable groups were exposed to FR, VR, and RR schedules. The implementation of the FI did not decrease the high response rates generated by those schedules. These findings suggest that self-descriptions and instructions are functionally equivalent, and that variable contingencies promote greater behavioral sensitivity than specific ones as long as variable behavior patterns are obtained with the former contingencies. |
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Peak Shift and Resistance-to-Change |
Domain: Basic Research |
BRENT L. ALSOP (University of Otago, New Zealand), Benjamin McEachen (University of Otago, New Zealand) |
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Abstract: Four pigeons were trained in a multiple schedule where different colors signaled the two components. Responses were reinforced on a random interval 30-s schedule in one component, and on a random interval 180-s schedule in the other component. Response rates were higher during the component with the higher reinforcer rate. A succession of brief generalization tests was then carried out in extinction using eight different key colors. The generalization gradients revealed both positive and negative peak shift, and response rates to all stimuli decreased across sessions of extinction. An analysis of resistance-to-change at each test stimulus across extinction sessions revealed that resistance-to-change also showed the peak shift phenomenon. Response rate and resistance-to-change can share common properties of stimulus control, and both are worthy of analysis in order to understand the relation between response strength and antecedent stimuli. |
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Evaluating Web-Based Instruction for Adults |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
10:00 AM–10:50 AM |
Williford B (3rd floor) |
Area: EDC |
Chair: Darrel R. Davis (University of South Florida) |
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An Experimental Analysis of the Effectiveness of Two Web-Based Instructional Programs in Teaching Complex Auditory Discrimination with Classical Music |
Domain: Applied Research |
GUDMUNDUR T. HEIMISSON (University of South Florida), Darrel E. Bostow (University of South Florida), Michael A. Cohen (University of South Florida), Darrel R. Davis (University of South Florida) |
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Abstract: Posttest performances after two forms of Web-based tutorial instruction were compared. Both forms were designed to teach discrimination between different types of music (medieval/renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic, and modern). The first treatment condition was a web page with text and accompanying hyperlinks to musical selections matched to the text. In this condition, students read and listened at their own discretion — without program restrictions. The second treatment had exactly the same text and musical selections, but the web-based program showed only a few paragraphs at a time. Progress through the program was contingent on filling in missing words in the text presented. No time constraints were placed on participants. The essential difference between the conditions was 1) movement with the instruction content without restriction, and 2) advancement through the program being dependent upon correct responses to the text material (which included discriminative responding to accompanying musical examples). Implications of the study and suggestions for future research will be discussed. |
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Experimental Evaluation of Incremental Prompting as a Feature of Web-Delivered Programmed Instruction |
Domain: Applied Research |
DARREL R. DAVIS (University of South Florida), Darrel E. Bostow (University of South Florida), Gudmundur T. Heimisson (University of South Florida) |
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Abstract: An extensive tutorial was created about an operant analysis of the relevance of feelings in daily living. Dependent variables were various student outcomes such as posttest performance, self-report, time to complete the tutorials, and scored essays. The study compared the presentation of 1) standard prose, 2) the same prose delivered in PI format with the necessity of supplying missing words—but allowing only one try per frame, 3) PI with contingent gradually increasing prompting following wrong answers in each frame until the student answered correctly or the correct answer was presented. Data will be discussed with respect to the questions of 1) whether error-contingent prompting facilitates post-tutorial performance, and 2) whether any effects were observed in user performance that resulted from decreasing the contribution of each correct answer to a “running tutorial percent correct score.” |
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From Primary Verbal Operants to Rules: A Conceptual Analysis of the Functional Variables at Work |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
10:00 AM–10:50 AM |
Stevens 3 (Lower Level) |
Area: VBC; Domain: Theory |
Chair: David Bicard (Hawthorne Country Day School) |
Discussant: William L. Heward (The Ohio State University) |
Abstract: In this symposium we will present two papers related to the study of verbal behavior. The first paper will discuss recent investigations done in the area of stimulus-stimulus pairing to teach primary verbal operants to non-verbal children. The second paper will discuss the research on rules and verbally controlled behavior. Both of the papers will delve into the conceptual and methodological difficulties in the study of these two areas of verbal behavior and discuss alternate interpretations of the research that may prove useful for the further study of verbal behavior. |
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A Stimulus-Stimulus Pairing Procedure and Vocal Behavior of Children with Autism and Developmental Disabilities |
SOYOUNG YOON (Hawthorne Country Day School), David Bicard (Hawthorne Country Day School) |
Abstract: A stimulus-stimulus pairing procedure has been proven effective in inducing noble vocal sounds in children with no or very limited vocal verbal behavior. The effect of the pairing procedure is evident in increasing the rate of the specific vocal sound paired without direct reinforcement. However, the effect has been reported to be temporary in several studies. The author will describe possible variables related to this. And specifically, the author will present a study that manipulates one of the possible variables, the number of pairings and pairing sessions, and discuss the results. A stimulus-stimulus pairing procedure has been proven effective in inducing noble vocal sounds in children with no or very limited vocal verbal behavior. The effect of the pairing procedure is evident in increasing the rate of the specific vocal sound paired without direct reinforcement. However, the effect has been reported to be temporary in several studies. The author will describe possible variables related to this. And specifically, the author will present a study that manipulates one of the possible variables, the number of pairings and pairing sessions, and discuss the results. |
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A Conceputal Analysis of the Functional Charecteristics of Rules |
DAVID BICARD (Hawthorne Country Day School) |
Abstract: Since Skinner first introduced the term rule into the lexicon of behavior analysis in the 1960s, behavioral researchers have failed to come to a clear consensus concerning either the conceptual foundation or the experimental results of the analysis of how rules control verbal and nonverbal behavior. A precise and experimentally determined definition of rules will likely influence the course and interpretation of research and has implications for how behavior analysts apply the technology to help solve human problems. The purpose of this paper is to review the conceptual and experimental analysis of verbally controlled behavior, examine the relevant literature, and provide a research supported functional definition of the term rule. |
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The Place of Movement in the Analysis of Behavior |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
10:00 AM–10:50 AM |
Astoria (3rd floor) |
Area: TPC |
Chair: Parsla Vintere (The City University of New York) |
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Talking About Movement in Behavioral Terms |
Domain: Theory |
PARSLA VINTERE (The Graduate Center, The City University of New York), Claire L. Poulson (Queens College, City University of New York) |
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Abstract: Movement has rarely been a central focus in the field of behavior analysis and there is no separate area of study of movement. While movement is a part of all behavior, it may become the main focus in the context of motor development, health, and various forms of physical activity. The purpose of this paper is (a) to define movement in behavioral terms; (b) to provide a brief review of general categories of motor skill; and (c) to examine behavioral measures that might be used to uncover learning processes underlying movement. The behavior analysis literature on movement and that of subdisciplines of kinesiology will be discussed. |
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Behavioral Analysis of Movement |
Domain: Theory |
PARSLA VINTERE (The Graduate Center, City University of New York), Claire L. Poulson (Queens College, City University of New York) |
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Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to review the behavior analysis literature on movement and that of subdisciplines of kinesiology pertaining to movement as a dependent variable. Environmental control of movement by antecedents and consequences will also be discussed. Theoretical and empirical studies examining the effectiveness of various discrimination-training procedures, such as differential reinforcement, prompting, transfer-of-stimulus-control, response differentiation, and induction are presented in the context of motor development, health rehabilitation, and physical activity. Strategies for programming stimulus generalization are discussed. It is concluded that movement, when defined in behavioral terms, is an important and appropriate area of behavior analysis. |
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Recent Developments in Conditioned Reinforcement and Drugs |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
10:00 AM–11:20 AM |
Lake Ontario (8th floor) |
Area: BPH; Domain: Basic Research |
Chair: Bethany R. Raiff (University of Florida) |
Discussant: Timothy A. Slocum (Utah State University) |
Abstract: This symposium will cover recent developments in the relationship between drugs and their correlated, non-pharmacological stimuli. The first presentation (Koffarnus and Katz) will address effects of stimulant drugs on responding in second order schedules, while the second presentation (Raiff and Dallery) will discuss effects of nicotine on responding using the observing procedure. Finally, the third presentation (Roll, Reilly, and Johanson) will examine the influence of drug-associated consequences on the reinforcing properties of the drugs themselves. |
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Stimulant and Non-stimulant Effects on Responding During Second-Order Schedules of Food Reinforcement in Pigeons |
MIKHAIL KOFFARNUS (National Institute on Drug Abuse), Jonathan L. Katz (National Institute on Drug Abuse /NIH /DHHS) |
Abstract: An increase in the effects of conditioned reinforcement has been suggested as a mechanism for the increases in operant responding produced by psychomotor stimulant drugs. The current experiment attempted to independently assess the effects of psychomotor stimulant drugs on rates of operant responding and a potential effect on conditioned reinforcement. Six pigeons were trained to respond under second-order schedules of reinforcement with brief stimulus presentations paired with food delivery [FI 5-min(FR 10:S)]. The brief stimulus presentations within the second-order schedule were then replaced with stimuli not paired with any reinforcer. Data will be presented describing the effects on responding produced by cocaine, d-amphetamine, and pentobarbital administered before sessions. |
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Effects of Nicotine on Food/Extinction and Observing Responses in Rats |
BETHANY R. RAIFF (University of Florida), Jesse Dallery (University of Florida) |
Abstract: The non-pharmacological stimuli associated with smoking may be important in smoking maintenance, and have been shown to enhance nicotine self-administration in non-humans. However, the direct effects of nicotine on responding maintained by these stimuli (i.e., conditioned reinforcers) have not been explicitly studied. The current experiment used the observing-response procedure to study the acute and chronic effects of nicotine on lever pressing maintained by food and conditioned reinforcers (i.e., lights), and lever pressing in the absence of programmed consequences (i.e., extinction). Four rats served as subjects. Food-maintained responses during the acute phase did not change, but increased for three of four subjects at the intermediate doses during the chronic phase. Relative to vehicle, intermediate doses of nicotine increased observing-responses for three of the four subjects during the acute phase and for all subjects after chronic exposure. There were no significant changes in response rates during extinction for either the acute or chronic phase. The results suggest that nicotine enhances responding maintained by conditioned reinforcers, and possibly by food, but does not affect responding during periods of extinction. |
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Drugs as Conditioned Reinforcers |
JOHN M. ROLL (Washington State University, Friends Research Institute), Mark P. Reilly (Central Michigan University), Chris-Ellyn Johanson (Wayne State University) |
Abstract: Drugs of abuse have often been shown to confer reinforcing efficacy onto stimuli that are associated with their consumption. We have been investigating a related, yet conceptually different, aspect of this relation; namely, to what extent can the reinforcing (or punishing) events that follow drug consumption alter the reinforcing efficacy of the drug. That is, can the events that follow drug consumption serve to increase or decrease the drug’s reinforcing efficacy via a process of conditioned reinforcement? We will discuss data on this topic garnered from laboratory studies conducted with humans self- administering, placebo, diazepam or ethanol. Results suggest that the reinforcing efficacy of placebo and diazepam are readily increased by pairing their consumption with the perception of enhanced performance and monetary gain. Results for alcohol are more equivocal, perhaps suggesting that prior experience with a certain drug may produce some resistance to alteration in the drug’s reinforcing efficacy via a conditioned reinforcement process. Finally, we will conclude by discussing the clinical and prevention implications of these data. |
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Int'l Paper Session - Timing |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
10:30 AM–11:20 AM |
Private Dining Room 3 (3rd floor) |
Area: EAB |
Chair: Lauren Duffy (Texas Christian University) |
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Acquisition Versus Steady State in the Time-Left Procedure |
Domain: Basic Research |
ARMANDO MACHADO (University of Minho, Portugal), Marco Vasconcelos (Purdue University) |
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Abstract: We report the results of two experiments designed to test Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET) in the time-left procedure. Pigeons were initially exposed to two fixed-interval schedules, an FI 30 s and an FI 60 s. The two FIs were associated with distinct keys and were presented on separate trials. Subsequently, during test trials, the FI 60-s key was illuminated and then, after 15, 30, or 45 s had elapsed since trial onset, the FI 30-s key also was illuminated. SET predicted that a) preference for the FI 30-s key would be weaker the later that key was introduced into the test trials, and b) the result described in a) would be obtained since the very first test trials. The results from both experiments showed that prediction a) was confirmed but not prediction b). That is, preference changed reliably from acquisition to steady state, which suggests that learning took place during the test trials. We discuss the implications of these findings for theories of timing. |
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Temporal Dynamics and Reinforcer Duration: Determining Relevant Time Markers in Interval Schedule Performance in Pigeons |
Domain: Basic Research |
LAUREN DUFFY (Texas Christian University), Kaity Volpe (Texas Christian University), Jennifer J. Higa (Texas Christian University) |
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Abstract: Previous studies have shown that under certain conditions temporal performance on fixed interval (FI) schedules depends on the duration of the reinforcer. For example, postreinforcement pause (PRP) is longer with longer reinforcer durations. This result is unexpected because it means that timing is based on an event that is irrelevant to when a reinforcer will be available. A possible explanation is that animals are timing more than the interval requirement and include the duration of the reinforcer, so that the total cycle time drives behavior in the next interval. To test this idea, we exposed eight pigeons to a response-initiated delay (RID) schedule during which pigeons received reinforcers ranging from two to ten seconds. The total cycle time – time to the first response, delay to reinforcement, and reinforcer duration – was set to 60 s. Trial-by-trial and molar measures of performance during acquisition and the effects of reinforcer duration will be presented. The findings will be discussed in terms of models of timing including scalar expectancy theory and the multiple-time scale model. |
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Achieving Fluent Responding in Young Children with Disabilities |
Monday, May 30, 2005 |
10:30 AM–11:50 AM |
Stevens 1 (Lower Level) |
Area: DDA; Domain: Service Delivery |
Chair: Brian Doyle (HMEA) |
Discussant: Brian Doyle (HMEA) |
CE Instructor: Robyn E. Stewart, M.Ed. |
Abstract: Teachers often encounter students who present with both academic deficits and social-behavioral difficulties. Deficiencies in basic academic skills can eventually lead students to be excluded from general education classrooms, while a lack of appropriate social skills affects not only their development of advanced communicative abilities, but also further exacerbates their isolation from peers. Both of these deficit areas are strong predictors of later problems in life. Fluency training, with its emphasis on ?the student knows best? approach, offers alternate strategies for addressing these issues. Fluency training has been found to increase acquisition and retention of both component and composite skills. This presentation examines how fluency training in combination with other treatments can improve a basic academic skill (i.e., oral reading and comprehension) and social skills in young children with developmental disabilities. Results will be discussed with respect to the retention, endurance, and application of these skills in classroom settings. |