Graduation Year
2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
M.A.
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Degree Granting Department
Child and Family Studies
Major Professor
Andrew Samaha, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Kwang-Sun Blair, Ph.D.
Committee Member
Sarah Bloom, Ph.D.
Keywords
percentile schedule, drawing, automated assessment, Autism Spectrum Disorder
Abstract
One of the defining characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is repetitive, rigid, or stereotyped patterns of behavior. A proposed approach to treating such patterns is to provide reinforcement for response variability. Though research demonstrates that the variability of responses can be influenced by contingencies of reinforcement, no studies have examined the effects of placing contingencies on different units of behavior. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of two modified percentile schedules on variety of completed drawings and individual lines drawn by students with ASD who had been referred for engaging in rigid patterns of behavior. For all three participants that completed drawing sessions, results indicated that drawing variability increased the most when reinforcement was contingent on the variability of the completed drawing, as opposed to a random ratio schedule of reinforcement or reinforcement being contingent on individual lines being varied.
Scholar Commons Citation
Bayliss, Harvey Ray, "Reinforcement of Variability and Implications for Creativity" (2016). USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/etd/6065
