Comparison of Reinforcement Schedules in the Reduction of Stereotypy with Supported Routines 11The preparation of this manuscript was supported in part by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant No. 5-P30HD02528 and 1-P01HD26927 to the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, University of Kansas. We are grateful to Joe Spradlin for his helpful comments on versions of the manuscript. We also wish to acknowledge the design and development of the bar code data collection and anal

Assessment and Treatment of Vocal Stereotypy Associated With Television: A Pilot Study

“…That is, the visual and auditory stimulation generated by the TV may have produced an establishing operation for engaging in the target behavior. The treatment evaluation demonstrated that DRA could reduce vocal stereotypy while the TV was on, which also replicates and extends results of prior studies (e.g., Saunders et al, 1998). Sitting may have reduced the value of the reinforcer that maintained vocal stereotypy (i.e., produced an abolishing operation).…”

“…To our knowledge, no study has reported the effects of interventions other than time-out from the evocative stimulus to reduce stereotypy associated with idiosyncratic stimuli. Nonetheless, other research has shown that differential reinforcement may reduce stereotypy unrelated to specific idiosyncratic stimuli (e.g., Saunders, Saunders, & Marquis, 1998). The purpose of this study was to replicate and extend prior research by examining the effects of TV on vocal stereotypy and implementing a differential reinforcement procedure to reduce stereotypy when the TV was turned on.…”

“…For example, Rapp (2005) found that turning on a television (TV) evoked multiple response forms of stereotypy and that contingent time-out (i.e., turning off the TV) effectively reduced this behavior. Nonetheless, other research has shown that differential reinforcement may reduce stereotypy unrelated to specific idiosyncratic stimuli (e.g., Saunders, Saunders, & Marquis, 1998). Although engaging in vocal stereotypy while viewing TV does not cause physical harm, it may be distract-ing or disruptive to other viewers and socially stigmatizing for the individual during public viewing (e.g., when in a movie theater or at school).…”