Teaching and Promoting Generalization of Peer Imitation With Preschoolers With Disabilities

Researchers have identified effective instructional strategies for teaching peer imitation, including embedded classroom-based interventions. However, there is a dearth of strategies that have been effective for teaching generalization of imitation skills to novel contexts. Building on previous research, we examined the use of progressive time delay to increase peer imitation in the context of a play activity for four preschoolers with disabilities. We conducted preference and reinforcer assessments to identify effective reinforcers for each child prior to intervention. We conducted a multiple baseline across participants design meeting contemporary single case standards and used visual analysis to identify a functional relation: the intervention package was associated with an increase in the participants’ peer imitation in training contexts. The intervention also led to levels of peer imitation comparable to those of typically developing peers, as measured by a normative peer sample, and generalization to novel contexts.

Using Using Brief Experimental Analysis to Increase Food Consumption for an Adult with an Eating Disorder: A Case Study

The present study investigated the utility of brief experimental analysis applied to reinforcer assessments in providing a data-based course of treatment targeting food consumption for an adult with Anorexia. Results of two brief experimental analyses indicated the subject consumed more grams of food during the contingent positive attention condition when compared to three other conditions. A brief extended analysis based on the results of the experimental analyses found that positive attention increased the subject’s food consumption during lunch and dinner. Results provide preliminary evidence for using brief experimental analyses for identifying contingent relationships between food consumption and maintaining reinforcers. This might be helpful for those developing prescriptive treatments to increase food consumption of adults with Anorexia.