Increasing Mand Variability in Preschoolers with Autism

Author

Tyra P. Sellers, Utah State University

Date of Award:

5-2011

Document Type:

Dissertation

Degree Name:

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department:

Special Education and Rehabilitation Counseling

Department name when degree awarded

Special Education and Rehabilitation

Committee Chair(s)

Thomas S. Higbee

Committee

Thomas S. Higbee

Committee

Timothy A. Slocum

Committee

Amy L. Odum

Committee

Charles L. Salzberg

Committee

Sarah E. Bloom

Abstract

Language development and the ability to access reinforcement in young children with autism may be impeded by lack of behavioral variability in verbal behavior. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of simultaneously teaching multiple responses and extinction of repetition on producing varied verbal behavior in young children with autism. In particular, we examined the effects of these procedures on increasing the behavioral variability of mands used to request edibles in preschool children with autism. For all three participants, neither increasing mand repertoires via teaching multiple responses, nor extinction of repetition, by themselves or in combination were effective at producing stable behavioral variability. However, antecedent strategies (presence of visual cues) were effective at producing varied manding for all three participants.

Checksum

42fcd78948cf8bf87c4d7a0b279685ef

Comments

This work made publicly available electronically on June 10, 2011.

Recommended Citation

Sellers, Tyra P., "Increasing Mand Variability in Preschoolers with Autism" (2011). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 948.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/948