8
8/20/2019 Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruct… http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/whitman-t-l-zakaras-m-chardos-s-1971-effects-of-reinforcement 1/8 JOURNAL OF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS EFFECTS OF REINFORCEMENT AND GUIDANCE PRO CED URES ON INSTRUCTION FOLLOWING BEHA VIOR OF SEVERELY RETA RDED CHILDREN' THOMAS L. WHITMAN, MICHAEL ZAKARAS, AND STEPHEN CHARDOS UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME Positive reinforcement, physical guidance, and fading procedures were used to teach two severely retarded children motor responses to a variety of verbal instructions. Subjects responses to one set of instructions provided the focus for the training procedures. Their responses to a second set of instructions were used to assess the generalized effects of train- ing. Th e frequency of responses to both sets of instructions was evaluated during Baseline 1, Training 1, Baseline 2, and Training 2 periods. During the training periods, this evalua- tion was made after the daily training sessions when no training procedures were in effect. Results indicated that the subjects showed pronounced increases in instruction-following behaviors (both trained and untrained) during training periods with decreases in such behavior occurring during the Baseline 2 period. Th e general findings demonstrate the applicability of the training procedures for producing and maintaining instruction-follow- ing behaviors in severely retarded children and for facilitating appropriate responding to instructions not directly involved in training. Numerous studies have examined the prev- alence of language disorders among mentally retarded populations (Sachs, 1951; Schlanger, 1953; Schlanger and Gottsteben, 1957). As Spradlin (1963) pointed out, the results of such studies indicate that about 57 to 72 of insti- tutionalized mentally defectives have speech defects. Because of the high frequency of speech problems, there have been many at- tempts to modify the verbal behavior of this population (e.g., Schneider and Vallon, 1955; Mechan, 1955; Johnson, Capobianco, and Miller, 1960). Such studies have typically at- tempted to increase the frequency of specific types of verbalizations and/or to improve ar- ticulation. Although equally important, there has been less emphasis on another aspect of language training, which concerns language as a stimu- lus rather than a response. That is, not only does the human organism have to learn to produce language responses but it is also criti- cal that his motor responses come under the control of verbal stimuli. Within this context, a verbal stimulus, like any other physical stim-  Reprints may be obtained from Thomas L. Whit- man, Psychology Department, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, 46556. Th e authors wish to thank Mr. J. Nelson Mosher, Director, and the staff of Logan School for the Mentally Retarded for their cooperation and interest in this project. ulus, presumably acquires discriminative prop- erties by means of a reinforcement process. While many studies have pointed out the im- portance of verbal stimuli (instructions) for establishing and maintaining human operant behavior (e.g., Ayllon and Azrin, 1964, Baron, Kaufman, and Stauber, 1969 few studies have attempted to develop verbal stimulus control of such behavior when it is initially absent. Th e task of a trainer becomes one of insuring that an organism makes a specific response in the presence of a specific verbal stimulus. Re- sults by Bowman (1960) suggest that a verbal reinforcement technique can be used to teach retarded children a motor response to a verbal request. Th e subjects in this study were re- quired to respond to a group of verbal requests (e.g.,  Which is the back of the dress? ) by pointing. Zimmerman, Zimmerman, and Rus- sell (1969) using a token reinforcement proce- dure administered on a group basis also suc- cessfully generated and maintained high frequencies of  instruction-following behav- ior in moderately and mildly retarded subjects. In shaping the motor responses of severely retarded children, a special problem may be presented in that the response to be reinforced, or an approximation of it, may never occur. In such instances, physical guidance proce- dures such as those described by Baer, Peter- son, and Sherman (1967) and Whitman, Ca- 283 1971, 4, 283-290 NUMBER 4 (WINTER 1971

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8/20/2019 Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruct…

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JOURNAL

OF

APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS

EFFECTS

OF

REINFORCEMENT

AND

GUIDANCE

PROCED

URES

ON INSTRUCTION FOLLOWING

BEHA

VIOR OF

SEVERELY RETA

RDED

CHILDREN'

THOMAS

L .

WHITMAN, MICHAEL Z A K A R A S ,

AND

S T E P H E N

CHARDOS

UNIVERSITY OF

NOTRE

DAME

P o s i t i v e r e i n f o r c e m e n t ,

p h y s i c a l

g u i d a n c e , a n d

f a d i n g

p r o c e d u r e s

w e r e u s e d

t o

t e a c h

t w o

s e v e r e l y

r e t a r d e d c h i l d r e n

motor

r e s p o n s e s

t o

a

v a r i e t y

o f v e r b a l

i n s t r u c t i o n s .

S u b j e c t s

r e s p o n s e s

t o

o n e s e t

o f

i n s t r u c t i o n s

p r o v i d e d

t h e f o c u s

f o r

t h e

t r a i n i n g

p r o c e d u r e s .

T h e i r

r e s p o n s e s t o

a

s e c o n d s e t o f

i n s t r u c t i o n s

w e r e u s e d t o

a s s e s s

t h e

g e n e r a l i z e d

e f f e c t s

o f

t r a i n -

i n g . Th e

f r e q u e n c y o f

r e s p o n s e s

t o b o t h

s e t s

o f i n s t r u c t i o n s

was e v a l u a t e d

d u r i n g

B a s e l i n e

1 ,

T r a i n i n g 1 ,

B a s e l i n e

2 ,

a n d

T r a i n i n g

2

p e r i o d s .

D u r i n g

t h e

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d s ,

t h i s

e v a l u a -

t i o n

w a s m ade a f t e r t h e d a i l y

t r a i n i n g

s e s s i o n s

when

no

t r a i n i n g p r o c e d u r e s

were

i n

e f f e c t .

R e s u l t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t t h e

s u b j e c t s

s h o w e d

p r o n o u n c e d

i n c r e a s e s

i n

i n s t r u c t i o n - f o l l o w i n g

b e h a v i o r s ( b o t h

t r a i n e d

a n d

u n t r a i n e d )

d u r i n g

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d s w i t h

d e c r e a s e s

i n

s u c h

b e h a v i o r

o c c u r r i n g

d u r i n g

t h e

B a s e l i n e

2

p e r i o d .

Th e

g e n e r a l f i n d i n g s

d e m o n s t r a t e

t h e

a p p l i c a b i l i t y

o f

t h e

t r a i n i n g p r o c e d u r e s

f o r

p r o d u c i n g

a n d

m a i n t a i n i n g

i n s t r u c t i o n - f o l l o w -

i n g

b e h a v i o r s

i n

s e v e r e l y

r e t a r d e d c h i l d r e n a n d f o r

f a c i l i t a t i n g a p p r o p r i a t e

r e s p o n d i n g

t o

i n s t r u c t i o n s

n o t

d i r e c t l y i n v o l v e d

i n

t r a i n i n g .

Numerous

s t u d i e s

h a v e e x a m i n e d

t h e

p r e v -

a l e n c e o f

l a n g u a g e

d i s o r d e r s

am ong m e n t a l l y

r e t a r d e d

p o p u l a t i o n s

( S a c h s ,

1 9 5 1 ; S c h l a n g e r ,

1 9 5 3 ;

S c h l a n g e r

a n d

G o t t s t e b e n , 1 9 5 7 ) .

A s

S p r a d l i n

( 1 9 6 3 )

p o i n t e d

o u t ,

t h e

r e s u l t s

o f

s u c h

s t u d i e s

i n d i c a t e

t h a t

a b o u t

5 7

t o

72

o f i n s t i -

t u t i o n a l i z e d

m e n t a l l y

d e f e c t i v e s

h a v e

s p e e c h

d e f e c t s . B e c a u s e

o f t h e

h i g h

f r e q u e n c y

o f

s p e e c h

p r o b l e m s ,

t h e r e

h a v e

b e e n

many

a t -

t e m p t s

t o

m o d i f y t h e

v e r b a l

b e h a v i o r

o f t h i s

p o p u l a t i o n

( e . g . ,

S c h n e i d e r

a n d

V a l l o n , 1 9 5 5 ;

M e c h a n , 1 9 5 5 ;

J o h n s o n , C a p o b i a n c o ,

a n d

M i l l e r ,

1 9 6 0 ) .

S u c h s t u d i e s

h a v e

t y p i c a l l y

a t -

t e m p t e d t o

i n c r e a s e

t h e f r e q u e n c y

o f

s p e c i f i c

t y p e s

o f

v e r b a l i z a t i o n s

a n d / o r

t o

i m p r o v e

a r -

t i c u l a t i o n .

A l t h o u g h

e q u a l l y

i m p o r t a n t , t h e r e h a s

b e e n

l e s s

e m p h a s i s

o n a n o t h e r

a s p e c t

o f

l a n g u a g e

t r a i n i n g ,

w h i c h

c o n c e r n s

l a n g u a g e

a s

a

s t i m u -

l u s r a t h e r

t h a n

a

r e s p o n s e . T h a t i s ,

n o t

o n l y

d o e s

t h e

human

o r g a n i s m h a v e

t o

l e a r n

t o

p r o d u c e l a n g u a g e

r e s p o n s e s b u t

i t

i s a l s o c r i t i -

c a l

t h a t h i s

m o t o r r e s p o n s e s

come

u n d e r t h e

c o n t r o l

o f v e r b a l

s t i m u l i . W i t h i n

t h i s

c o n t e x t ,

a

v e r b a l

s t i m u l u s , l i k e

a n y o t h e r

p h y s i c a l s t i m -

  R e p r i n t s

m a y

b e o b t a i n e d

f r o m

Thomas

L .

W h i t -

man,

P s y c h o l o g y

D e p a r t m e n t ,

U n i v e r s i t y o f

N o t r e

Dame, N o t r e

Dame,

I n d i a n a ,

4 6 5 5 6 . Th e a u t h o r s w i s h

t o

t h a n k

M r .

J .

N e l s o n

M o s h e r , D i r e c t o r ,

and t h e

s t a f f

o f

L o g a n

S c h o o l

f o r

t h e

M e n t a l l y

R e t a r d e d f o r t h e i r

c o o p e r a t i o n

a n d

i n t e r e s t

i n

t h i s p r o j e c t .

u l u s ,

p r e s u m a b l y a c q u i r e s d i s c r i m i n a t i v e

p r o p -

e r t i e s

b y

m e a n s o f

a

r e i n f o r c e m e n t

p r o c e s s .

W h i l e m a ny

s t u d i e s h a v e

p o i n t e d

o u t

t h e

i m -

p o r t a n c e o f v e r b a l s t i m u l i

( i n s t r u c t i o n s ) f o r

e s t a b l i s h i n g

a n d m a i n t a i n i n g

human

o p e r a n t

b e h a v i o r ( e . g . ,

A y l l o n

a n d

A z r i n ,

1 9 6 4 ,

B a r o n ,

K a u f m a n ,

a n d

S t a u b e r ,

1 9 6 9

f e w s t u d i e s h a v e

a t t e m p t e d t o d e v e l o p v e r b a l

s t i m u l u s

c o n t r o l

o f

s u c h b e h a v i o r when

i t i s

i n i t i a l l y a b s e n t .

The t a s k o f a t r a i n e r

b e c o m e s o n e o f

i n s u r i n g

t h a t a n

o r g a n i s m m a k e s

a

s p e c i f i c

r e s p o n s e i n

t h e

p r e s e n c e

o f a

s p e c i f i c v e r b a l

s t i m u l u s .

R e -

s u l t s

b y

Bo w m a n

( 1 9 6 0 ) s u g g e s t

t h a t a

v e r b a l

r e i n f o r c e m e n t

t e c h n i q u e c a n b e

u s e d t o t e a c h

r e t a r d e d c h i l d r e n a

m o t o r

r e s p o n s e

t o

a v e r b a l

r e q u e s t .

Th e

s u b j e c t s

i n

t h i s

s t u d y

w e r e

r e -

q u i r e d

t o

r e s p o n d

t o

a

g r o u p o f

v e r b a l

r e q u e s t s

( e . g . ,   W h i c h

i s t h e b a c k o f t h e

d r e s s ? ) b y

p o i n t i n g .

Z i m m e r m a n ,

Zimmerman, a n d R u s -

s e l l

( 1 9 6 9 )

u s i n g

a t o k e n

r e i n f o r c e m e n t p r o c e -

d u r e

a d m i n i s t e r e d o n

a

g r o u p b a s i s a l s o s u c -

c e s s f u l l y g e n e r a t e d a n d

m a i n t a i n e d h i g h

f r e q u e n c i e s o f

  i n s t r u c t i o n - f o l l o w i n g b e h a v -

i o r i n

m o d e r a t e l y

a n d

m i l d l y r e t a r d e d

s u b j e c t s .

I n

s h a p i n g t h e

m o t o r r e s p o n s e s

o f

s e v e r e l y

r e t a r d e d

c h i l d r e n , a

s p e c i a l p r o b l e m m a y

b e

p r e s e n t e d

i n

t h a t

t h e

r e s p o n s e

t o

b e

r e i n f o r c e d ,

o r

a n

a p p r o x i m a t i o n

o f

i t ,

m ay

n e v e r o c c u r .

I n

s u c h

i n s t a n c e s , p h y s i c a l

g u i d a n c e

p r o c e -

d u r e s s u c h a s

t h o s e d e s c r i b e d

b y B a e r , P e t e r -

s o n ,

a n d

S h e r m a n

( 1 9 6 7 )

a n d W h i t m a n , C a -

2 8 3

1 9 7 1 ,

4 ,

2 8 3 - 2 9 0

NUMBER

4

( W I N T E R

1 9 7 1

Page 2: Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruction-following Behavior of Severely Retarded Children». Journa

8/20/2019 Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruct…

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Page 3: Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruction-following Behavior of Severely Retarded Children». Journa

8/20/2019 Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruct…

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INSTRUCTION-FOLLOWING

BEHA

VIOR

T a b l e 1

I n s t r u c t i o n s G i v e n t o R o g e r a n d

Mary

Roger

1 .

S i t

down

2 .

S t a n d

up

3 . Look

a t m e

4 . P o i n t t o

y o u r

n o s e

5 .

P i c k up

t h e

c u p

6 .

G i v e

m e

t h e

p e n c i l

7 .

P u t

t h e p e n c i l

i n

f r o n t

o f

t h e

b o x

8 .

C l a p y o u r

h a n d s

9 . P u t y o u r

h a n d s u n d e r

t h e

t a b l e

1 0 .

P o i n t

t o

y o u r

e y e

1 1 . P i c k up t h e

j a c k e t

1 .

Come

h e r e

2 .

Hold

m y

h a n d

3 .

P u t

y o u r h a n d s o n

t h e

t a b l e

4 . P o i n t

t o

y o u r

e a r

5 .

P o i n t

t o

y o u r

mouth

6 . P o i n t t o

y o u r

a r m

7 .

G i v e m e

t h e

c u p

8 . G i v e

m e t h e

j a c k e t

9 . P i c k

up

t h e

p e n c i l

1 0 . P u t

t h e

p e n c i l

i n

t h e b o x

1 1 .

Pu t

t h e

p e n c i l

b e h i n d

t h e

b o x

Mary

1 .

Look

a t

m e

2 . P o i n t

t o t h e

w i n d o w

3 . P i c k

up

t h e p e n c i l

4 .

G i v e m e t h e

p e n c i l

5 .

P u t t h e

p e n c i l

i n

t h e

b o x

6 .

P u t

t h e

p e n c i l

n e x t t o

t h e b o x

7 . P i c k up

t h e

c u p

8 .

G i v e

m e

t h e

c u p

9 . Touch y o u r

ar m

1 0 . Go t o t h e d o o r

1 .

P i c k

up t h e

b l o c k

2 . G i v e m e t h e b l o c k

e 3 .

P u t

t h e

b l o c k i n t h e b o x

4 .

P u t t h e b l o c k n e x t

t o

t h e

b o x

5 . Look

a t t h e l a m p

6 .

Touch

y o u r

l e g

7 . P i c k

up t h e

t o y

8 .

G i v e m e

t h e

t o y

9 . P o i n t t o t h e

d o o r

1 0 . Go

t o t h e window

s e t

o f

i n s t r u c t i o n s

( G e n e r a l i z a t i o n )

was

never

a d m i n i s t e r e d

d u r i n g

t h e

t r a i n i n g

s e s s i o n .

The

s u b j e c t s

m o t o r

responses

t o

t h i s l a t t e r s e t o f

i n s t r u c t i o n s p r o v i d e d , h o w e v e r ,

a

t e s t f o r t h e

o n g o i n g g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

e f f e c t s o f t h e

t r a i n i n g

p r o c e d u r e

( S e e

T a b l e

1 .

I n

o r d e r

t o

e s t a b l i s h

a

f i r m

r e s p o n s e

b a s i s

f o r

i n i t i a t i n g

t h e

r e i n -

f o r c e m e n t

p r o c e d u r e ,

t h e

t w o

i n s t r u c t i o n s ,

  s i t

down

and   s t a n d

u p ,

t o

w h i c h

R o g e r

m o s t

f r e q u e n t l y

r e s p o n d e d d u r i n g

t h e b a s e l i n e

pe-

r i o d

were p l a c e d

i n

t h e

t r a i n i n g

s e t . The

i n -

s t r u c t i o n

  l o o k

a t

m e

was

a l s o

p l a c e d

i n

t h i s

s e t

s o

t h a t

t h e

s u b j e c t

would

l e a r n

t o h a v e

eye

c on ta c t

w i t h

t h e

e x p e r i m e n t e r

and

e n a b l e

t h e

e x p e r i m e n t e r

b e t t e r

t o m a i n t a i n

t h e

s u b j e c t s

a t t e n t i o n d u r i n g

t r a i n i n g . The o t h e r

i n s t r u c -

t i o n s were

a s s i g n e d i n s o f a r a s

was p o s s i b l e

on

a

m a t c h e d b a s i s t o t h e

t r a i n i n g

a n d

g e n e r a l i z a -

t i o n

s e t s

b y

t a k i n g

i n t o

c o n s i d e r a t i o n

t h e spe-

c i f i c

v e r b s ( e . g . ,

p u t o r p o i n t )

i n v o l v e d i n t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s .

T r a i n i n g

i n v o l v e d

t h e

a p p l i c a t i o n

o f

p o s i -

t i v e

r e i n f o r c e m e n t , p h y s i c a l g u i d a n c e ,

and

f a d -

i n g

p r o c e d u r e s .

P h y s i c a l

and

s o c i a l

r e i n f o r c e r s

were u s e d i n

c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h

e a c h

o t h e r and

a d m i n i s t e r e d

on

a

c o n t i n u o u s

s c h e d u l e .

The

p h y s i c a l r e i n f o r c e r s

were

sweet

c e r e a l ( F r u i t

L o o p s )

and

c h o c o l a t e

b i t s .

S o c i a l

r e i n f o r c e -

m e n t

c o n s i s t e d

o f

t h e

e x p e r i m e n t e r

p r a i s i n g

R o g e r b y

s a y i n g   g o o d

o r

  g o o d b o y

a f t e r

e a c h

c o r r e c t

response.

I n

o r d e r

t o

g e t

t h e s u b -

j e c t

i n i t i a l l y

t o

r e s p o n d

t o

an

i n s t r u c t i o n ,

a

p h y s i c a l g u i d a n c e p r o m p t i n g p r o c e d u r e

was

f r e q u e n t l y

u s e d .

F o r

e x a m p l e ,

i f

t h e

ex peri-

me n te r

i n t r o d u c e d

t h e i n s t r u c t i o n

  p i c k

up

t h e

c u p

and

R o g e r

d i d no t

r e s p o n d ,

t h e

ex-

p e r i m e n t e r

would

p r o c e e d

t o

t a k e h i s

h a n d ,

p l a c e

i t

a r o u n d t h e

c u p ,

and

t h e n

l i f t

h i s hand

u p .

I n

a d m i n i s t e r i n g

t h e

r e i n f o r c e m e n t ,

a

f a d -

i n g p r o c e d u r e

was u s e d w i t h

r e i n f o r c e m e n t i n -

i t i a l l y b e i n g g i v e n

f o r

a

resp on se, even t h o u g h

i t

was c o m p l e t e l y g u i d e d

b y t h e

e x p e r i m e n t e r .

The

e x p e r i m e n t e r

t h e n

r e d u c e d

h i s

p a r t i c i p a -

t i o n i n

s u c h

a

r e s p o n s e b y

g r a d u a l l y w i t h d r a w -

i n g h i s

p h y s i c a l g u i d a n c e a n d

i m m e d i a t e l y

r e i n f o r c i n g R o g e r ' s

i n c r e a s e d autonomy i n re-

s p o n d i n g

t o

t h e

command.

P h y s i c a l g u i d a n c e

was f i r s t

w i t h d r a w n

f r o m t h o s e

p h y s i c a l move

m e n t s

a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e

c o m p l e t i o n

o f

a

g i v e n

r e s p o n s e

a n d

t h e n

i t

was

p r o g r e s s i v e l y

r e m o v e d f r o m

o t h e r

movements i n

t h e

t o t a l

r e s p o n s e s e q u e n c e

i n

a

reverse

f a s h i o n u n t i l

R o g e r f i n a l l y

i n i t i a t e d

t h e

r e s p o n s e h i m s e l f .

F o r

e x a m p l e ,

w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e i n s t r u c t i o n

T r a i n i n g

S e t T

G e n e r a l i z a t i o n

S e t G

2 8 5

Page 4: Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruction-following Behavior of Severely Retarded Children». Journa

8/20/2019 Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruct…

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/whitman-t-l-zakaras-m-chardos-s-1971-effects-of-reinforcement 4/8

THOMAS

L .

WHITMAN e t

a l .

  p i c k up

t h e c u p , t h e e x p e r i m e n t e r r e d u c e d

t h e e x t e n t o f

h i s p h y s i c a l g u i d a n c e f r o m c o m -

p l e t e

a s s i s t a n c e

m e r e l y

t o g u i d i n g

t h e s u b j e c t s

h a n d

t o t h e

c u p

t o

c o m p l e t e w i t h d r a w a l

o f

s u c h

p h y s i c a l a s s i s t a n c e .

D u r i n g

t r a i n i n g ,

e a c h

s e s s i o n

b e g a n w i t h

t h e

e x p e r i m e n t e r

w o r k i n g

w i t h

a n i n s t r u c t i o n t o

w h i c h R o g e r h a d

a l r e a d y

c o n s i s t e n t l y

a n d

c o r -

r e c t l y r e s p o n d e d .

A f t e r h e r e s p o n d e d c o r r e c t l y

f o u r

o u t o f

f i v e t i m e s t o

a

g i v e n

i n s t r u c t i o n ,

a

d i f f e r e n t i n s t r u c t i o n

f r o m t h e

t r a i n i n g

s e t w a s

g i v e n . Th e o r d e r o f

i n t r o d u c t i o n o f

new i n -

s t r u c t i o n s

i s

p r e s e n t e d

i n

T a b l e

1 .

H o w e v e r ,

i f

R o g e r

c o n t i n u a l l y

f a i l e d

i n

h i s a t t e m p t

t o

r e -

s p o n d

t o o n e

o f t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s ,

t h e

e x p e r i -

m e n t e r d i s c o n t i n u e d

t h e i n s t r u c t i o n

a n d

moved

on

t o

t h e

n e x t

o n e .

No

s p e c i f i c

c r i t e r i a

w a s

e s -

t a b l i s h e d f o r

t e r m i n a t i n g t h e s u b j e c t

when h e

w a s f a i l i n g .

Th e

e x p e r i m e n t e r

made

s u c h

a

d e c i s i o n o n t h e b a s i s

o f w h e t h e r

o r

n o t

h e f e l t

R o g e r w a s s h o w i n g

s o m e

p r o g r e s s .

I f t h e

s u b -

j e c t

f a i l e d t o r e s p o n d

c o r r e c t l y

t o

t h r e e s u c c e s -

s i v e

i n s t r u c t i o n s ,

t h e

e x p e r i m e n t e r

r e i n i t i a t e d

a s u c c e s s f u l r e i n f o r c e m e n t

e x p e r i e n c e b y

r e -

t u r n i n g t o a n

i n s t r u c t i o n

R o g e r

w a s

a l r e a d y

c a p a b l e

o f

s u c c e s s f u l l y

c o m p l e t i n g . D u r i n g

t h e

2 0 - d a y

t r a i n i n g p e r i o d ,

a l l

o f

t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s

i n

t h e t r a i n i n g

s e t

w e r e

e x t e n s i v e l y

w o r k e d

w i t h

b y

t h e

e x p e r i m e n t e r .

A f t e r

e a c h t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n ,

a new

o p e r a n t

l e v e l

w a s

e s t a b l i s h e d

a c c o r d i n g

t o t h e

s a m e

p r o c e d u r e

o u t l i n e d

f o r t h e

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d .

The e x p e r i m e n t e r

p r e s e n t e d

t h e

e n t i r e

l i s t

o f

2 2

i n s t r u c t i o n s

( t r a i n i n g

a n d

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

s e t s )

t o

t h e

s u b j e c t

t w i c e w i t h o u t

a n y t y p e

o f

p h y s i c a l o r

s o c i a l r e i n f o r c e m e n t , p h y s i c a l

g u i d a n c e ,

o r

f a d i n g

p r o c e d u r e b e i n g

a d m i n i s -

t e r e d . The

i n s t r u c t i o n s

w e r e

p r e s e n t e d

i n

t h e

o r d e r

l i s t e d

i n

T a b l e

1

w i t h

t h e

t r a i n i n g

i n -

s t r u c t i o n s

p r e c e d i n g

t h e

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

i n -

s t r u c t i o n s .

A f t e r

t h e

2 0 - d a y

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d

e n d e d ,

t h e

o p e r a n t

l e v e l

o f

t h e

s u b j e c t s r e s p o n s e

t o s o c i a l

commands

was

a g a i n

a s s e s s e d

d u r i n g

a

s e c o n d

f i v e - d a y

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d

a c c o r d i n g

t o t h e

p r o -

c e d u r e

o u t l i n e d

f o r

t h e

i n i t i a l b a s e l i n e

e v a l u -

a t i o n .

A f t e r

t h i s

s e c o n d

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d

was

c o m p l e t e d ,

t r a i n i n g ,

a l o n g

w i t h

d a i l y

m e a s u r e -

ment

o f

t h e

o p e r a n t

r e s p o n s e l e v e l ,

w a s r e i n -

s t i t u t e d

f o r

a

1 5 - d a y

p e r i o d .

M a r y .

E x c e p t

f o r

d e v i a t i o n s d i s c u s s e d

h e r e ,

t h e

p r o c e d u r e

f o l l o w e d

f o r

M a r y

w a s i d e n t i c a l

t o t h a t

u s e d f o r

R o g e r .

B e c a u s e

t h e

t y p e s

o f

i n s t r u c t i o n s

t h a t

h e r

t e a c h e r

f e l t

t h a t

s h e

c o u l d

r e s p o n d

t o

w e r e s o m e w h a t

d i f f e r e n t , t h e l i s t o f

2 0

i n s t r u c t i o n s

w a s c h a n g e d

( s e e

T a b l e 1 .

The

s u b j e c t s

i n i t i a l o p e r a n t

r e s p o n s e l e v e l s

t o t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e e s t a b l i s h e d

o v e r a

f i v e - d a y

b a s e l i n e p e r i o d w i t h t h e e n t i r e l i s t

b e i n g a d -

m i n i s t e r e d

t w i c e

d a i l y .

A f t e r t h e b a s e l i n e

w a s

t a k e n ,

t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n s e x t e n d i n g

o v e r

a

p e -

r i o d

o f

3 5 c o n s e c u t i v e s c h o o l

d a y s

w e r e

i n i t i -

a t e d . Th e

i n s t r u c t i o n s

g i v e n t o

t h e

s u b j e c t

w e r e b r o k e n i n t o

t w o s e t s o f 1 0 . Th e t r a i n i n g

a n d g e n e r a l i z a t i o n w e r e

a g a i n g e n e r a l l y

p a r a l -

l e l

w i t h r e g a r d t o t h e t y p e s o f i n s t r u c t i o n s .

The s u b j e c t s r e s p o n s e s

t o

i n s t r u c t i o n s

i n t h e

t r a i n i n g

s e t a g a i n p r o v i d e d

t h e

f o c u s

f o r t h e

r e i n f o r c e m e n t

a n d

g u i d a n c e

p r o c e d u r e .

The

s u b j e c t s r e s p o n s e s

t o

t h e

o t h e r

s e t

o f i n s t r u c -

t i o n s

w e r e u s e d

t o a s s e s s

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

e f f e c t s

o f t h e

t r a i n i n g

p r o c e d u r e . Tw o

i n s t r u c t i o n s ,

  s i t d o w n

a n d

  s t a n d u p ,

w e r e

s e l e c t e d a s

p r e l i m i n a r y commands

t h a t

w e r e

w o r k e d

w i t h

f i r s t

t o

a c q u a i n t t h e s u b j e c t w i t h t h e t r a i n i n g

p r o c e d u r e .

I n

t r a i n i n g t h e

s u b j e c t

t o

make a p -

p r o p r i a t e

m o t o r r e s p o n s e s t o

t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s ,

r e i n f o r c e m e n t

( p h y s i c a l a n d

s o c i a l ) ,

p h y s i c a l

g u i d a n c e ,

a n d

f a d i n g p r o c e d u r e s

w e r e

u s e d ,

e s -

s e n t i a l l y

i n

t h e

s a m e

way a s

w i t h

R o g e r .

B e -

c a u s e

Mary

w a s o n a k i l o g e n i c

( h i g h f a t - l o w

s u g a r )

d i e t , a r t i f i c i a l l y

s w e e t e n e d

s o d a

w a s

i n i -

t i a l l y

a d m i n i s t e r e d

a s

t h e

r e i n f o r c e r .

The s o d a

w a s s q u i r t e d

i n t o

h e r mouth b y

m e a n s o f a

h y p o d e r m i c - l i k e

s y r i n g e . H o w e v e r ,

l a t e r

i n

t h e

s t u d y

Mary

w a s t a k e n

o f f

h e r

s p e c i a l

d i e t

a n d

c e r e a l

( F r u i t

L o o p s )

w a s u s e d

a s

a

r e i n f o r c e r .

A s

w i t h

R o g e r ,

a f t e r

e a c h t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n

t h e

e n t i r e l i s t

o f i n s t r u c t i o n s

was

g i v e n

t w i c e t o

t h e s u b j e c t a c c o r d i n g

t o

t h e

p r o c e d u r e

u s e d

d u r i n g

t h e i n i t i a l b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d .

A f t e r

t h e

t r a i n i n g p e r i o d

w a s

t e r m i n a t e d ,

a

1 5 - d a y

b a s e -

l i n e

p e r i o d

w a s

c o n d u c t e d

w i t h

t h e

e n t i r e

l i s t

o f

commands

a g a i n

b e i n g

g i v e n

t w i c e

d a i l y .

T h i s

s e c o n d

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d

w a s f o l l o w e d

b y

a

1 0 - d a y

p e r i o d

d u r i n g

w h i c h

t r a i n i n g w a s

r e i n i t i a t e d .

RESULTS

Tw o

c h e c k s

w e r e made

d u r i n g

e a c h

o f

t h e

b a s e l i n e

a n d

t r a i n i n g p e r i o d s

i n

o r d e r

t o

a s s e s s

t h e r e l i a b i l i t y

w i t h w h i c h

t w o

o b s e r v e r s

r a t e d

t h e

a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s

( c o r r e c t n e s s )

o f

t h e

s u b -

j e c t s

r e s p o n s e s

t o

t h e v a r i o u s i n s t r u c t i o n s .

I n

a l l

i n s t a n c e s ,

t h e

p e r c e n t a g e

o f

a g r e e m e n t

b e -

t w e e n i n d e p e n d e n t

r a t i n g s

made

b y

t h e o b -

s e r v e r s

e x c e e d e d

9 5 .

2 8 6

Page 5: Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruction-following Behavior of Severely Retarded Children». Journa

8/20/2019 Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruct…

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/whitman-t-l-zakaras-m-chardos-s-1971-effects-of-reinforcement 5/8

INSTRUCTION-FOLLOWING

BEHA

VIOR

F i g u r e s

1

a n d

2

present t h e ave r a ge

d a i l y

f r e q u e n c y o f correct

m o t o r

r e s p o n s e s

p er

f i v e -

d a y p e r i o d made b y R o g e r

a n d

Mary

t o

t h e

t r a i n i n g

a n d

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n i n s t r u c t i o n s d u r -

i n g

t h e b a s e l i n e

a n d

t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n s .

Th e

r e s p o n s e

d a t a

r e c o r d e d

d u r i n g

t h e t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d represent

n o n - r e i n f o r c e d

g e n e r a l i z e d

r e s p o n s e s

o b s e r v e d

d u r i n g t h e

t e s t i n g p e r i o d s

i m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g

t h e

d a i l y t r a i n i n g s e s -

s i o n s .

R e s p o n s e s

t o t h e

t r a i n i n g

i n s t r u c t i o n s

w e r e d i r e c t l y

r e i n f o r c e d

d u r i n g t h e t r a i n i n g

s e s s i o n s ;

t h e

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e

never p r e s e n t e d

d u r i n g t h i s p e r i o d .

A s

s h o w n

i n

F i g u r e s

1 a n d 2 ,

b o t h R o g e r

a n d

M a r y ' s

a ve r a g e r e s p o ns e f r e q u e n c i e s

t o

t h e

t r a i n i n g

and

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

i n s t r u c t i o n s

d u r -

i n g t h e b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d

were q u i t e l o w .

I n

t h e

f i r s t training

p e r i o d ,

b o t h s u b j e c t s s h o w e d

a

marked

i n c r e a s e

i n

r e s p o n d i n g

t o

t h o s e

t w o

s e t s o f

i n s t r u c t i o n ,

w i t h

R o g e r

s h o w i n g

a

more

s u b s t a n t i a l

i n c r e m e n t

t h a n

M a r y .

D u r i n g

t h e

l a s t

f i v e d a y s o f

t h i s p e r i o d ,

R o g e r ' s average

r e -

s p o n s e f r e q u e n c i e s

t o t h e

t r a i n i n g

and

gener-

a l i z a t i o n

i n s t r u c t i o n s were 1 5 . 8

and

1 2 . 6

r e -

s p e c t i v e l y ,

w h i l e

M a r y ' s

were

7 . 8

and

6 . 2 .

D u r -

i n g

t h e s e c o n d

b a s e l i n e

( P o s t

T r a i n i n g )

p e r i o d ,

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

 

I

I

ROGER

0

5

1 0 1 5

20

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

 

md

5

  O T

 O

G

I

I

I

I

3 0

3 5

40

4 5

BASELINE

 

TRAINING

 

BASELINE

 

TRAINING

 

DAYS

F i g . 1 . A v e r a g e d a i l y f r e q u e n c y

o f c o r r e c t m o t o r

re s p on se s per f i v e - d a y

b l o c k

m a d e by Roger

during

b a s e l i n e

and

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d s

t o

t r a i n i n g

( T )

and

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n ( G ) i n s t r u c t i o n s .

V )

L U j

n )

z

 

0 L

U)

u - J

LL

 

z

L L

o f

U

L U j

L U J

B c

 

L U j

L L

LU

a _

1 i

 

i c

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

5

5

t

3

2

 

2 8 7

l e

1 4

 

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THOMAS L .

WHITMAN

e t

a l .

7

6 1

5 l

4 1

3

2

M

A R

Y

BASELINE

 

TRAINING

  BASELINE II

DAYS

F i g . 2 . A v e r a g e d a i l y

f r e q u e n c y

o f c o r r e c t

m o t o r

r e s p o n s e s per

f i v e - d a y

and

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d s

t o

t r a i n i n g ( T)

a n d

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n ( G )

i n s t r u c t i o n s .

R o g e r

s h o w e d

a

p r e c i p i t o u s

d e c l i n e

i n r e -

s p o n d i n g

t o t h e

t w o s e t s

o f

i n s t r u c t i o n s ,

w h i l e

Mary

showed

o n l y

a

s l i g h t

d e c r e m e n t .

I n t h e

s e c o n d

t r a i n i n g p e r i o d ,

b o t h

s u b j e c t s

d i s p l a y e d

s u b s e q u e n t

i n c r e m e n t s

i n

r e s p o n d i n g

t o

t h e

t r a i n i n g

and

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

i s t r u c t i o n s .

D u r i n g

t h e

l a s t

f i v e

d a y s

o f

t h i s

p e r i o d ,

R o g e r ' s

aver-

a ge

r e s p o n s e

f r e q u e n c i e s

t o t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n a l

s e t s we re, h o w e v e r ,

l o w e r

t h a n

h i s

l e v e l

o f

r e -

s p o n d i n g d u r i n g

t h e

l a s t f i v e

d a y s

o f t h e

f i r s t

t r a i n i n g p e r i o d ,

w h i l e

M a r y ' s

c o n v e r s e l y

were

h i g h e r .

DISCUSSION

The

p e r f o r m a n c e

o f t h e

t w o

s u b j e c t s

s u g -

g e s t s

t h a t

f u n c t i o n a l

r e l a t i o n s h i p s

were

d e v e l -

o p e d

b e t w e e n a

m a j o r i t y

o f t h e

s p e c i f i c

m o t o r

r e s p o n s e s

and

t h e

c o r r e s p o n d i n g t r a i n i n g

i n -

s t r u c t i o n s

g i v e n

b y

t h e

e x p e r i m e n t e r .

F o r b o t h

b l o c k m ade b y

Mary

d u r i n g b a s e l i n e

R o g e r

a n d

Mary

t h e r e was

a

p r o n o u n c e d

i n -

crease i n t h e

f r e q u e n c y o f correct responses

d u r i n g t h e f i r s t t r a i n i n g p e r i o d , f o l l o w e d b y  

d e c r e a s e d u r i n g

t h e s e c o n d

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d ,

and

a g a i n

a

s u b s e q u e n t

i n c r e a s e

d u r i n g

t h e

s e c o n d

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d . C o n t r a s t i n g t h e per-

f o r m a n c e

o f

t h e

t w o s u b j e c t s ,

R o g e r

s h o w e d a

g r e a t e r

i n c r e a s e

i n

r e s p o n d i n g d u r i n g t h e f i r s t

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d , a

greater

d e c r e a s e i n r e s p o n d -

i n g

d u r i n g

t h e

s e c o n d

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d , a n d l e s s

r e s p o n s e

re covery

d u r i n g t h e s e c o n d

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d

t h a n

M a r y . A l t h o u g h

t h e r e

was some

d e c r e m e n t

i n

r e s p o n d i n g

d u r i n g

t h e

s e c o n d

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d ,

i t

i s

i m p o r t a n t

t o n o te

t h a t

b o t h

s u b j e c t s

c o n t i n u e d

t o

r e s p o n d c o r r e c t l y

t o

many

o f

t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s .

C o n s i d e r i n g

t h e

s u b j e c t s

re s p o n s e s

t o

t h e

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n i n s t r u c t i o n s

i t

i s

e v i d e n t

t h a t

an

e x t e n s i v e

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n e f f e c t o c c u r r e d .

A l t h o u g h r e s p o n s e s t o t h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s were

C ,

L e

C , ,

z

0

a -

C / )

L u

n

~ c

0

-j

0

> -

>

L U

Z

L U J

LU

C D

L U J

  0

T

0 - 0 *

6

A

TRAINING

I I

2 8 8

g i

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8/20/2019 Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruct…

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INSTRUCTION-FOLLOWING

BEHA

VIOR

n e v e r

r e i n f o r c e d , b o t h

s u b j e c t s

s h o w e d

a

m a r k e d

i n c r e a s e

i n

t h e n u m b e r

o f

s u c h

r e -

s p o n s e s

d u r i n g

t h e

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d s .

T h a t

r e -

s p o n s e s

t o t h e s e g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

i n s t r u c t i o n s

w e r e

b r o u g h t u n d e r

c o n t r o l o f

t h e

r e i n f o r c i n g

s t i m u l u s

i s

a l s o

s u g g e s t e d

b y

t h e

f a c t

t h a t

t h e

t r e n d

o f

r e s p o n s e

i n c r e m e n t s

d u r i n g

t h e

f i r s t

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d ,

r e s p o n s e

d e c r e m e n t s

d u r i n g

t h e s e c o n d

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d ,

a n d

s u b s e q u e n t

r e -

s p o n s e

i n c r e m e n t s

d u r i n g

t h e s e c o n d

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d

w e r e q u i t e

s i m i l a r t o t h e t r e n d o f

r e -

s p o n s e s

t o

t h e

t r a i n i n g i n s t r u c t i o n s

d u r i n g

t h e s e s a m e

p e r i o d s .

When

t h e s t r u c t u r e o f

t h e

t r a i n i n g a n d

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

i n s t r u c t i o n s i s

e x -

a m i n e d ,

t h i s

t y p e

o f

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

e f f e c t

i s

s t r i k i n g .

W h i l e t h e

t y p e

o f m o t o r

r e s p o n s e

r e -

f e r r e d

t o

i n t h e

t w o

s e t s o f

i n s t r u c t i o n s

w a s

o f t e n i d e n t i c a l

( e . g . ,

p o i n t t o o r

p u t )

t h e

s t i m -

u l u s i n v o l v e d

i n t h e

p a r t i c u l a r

r e s p o n s e s

( n o s e ,

b l o c k ) w a s

n o t

t h e s a m e .

I t

m a y

w e l l

b e

t h a t

m o r e

w a s

i n v o l v e d

i n

t r a i n i n g

t h a n

t h e

s u b j e c t s

l e a r n i n g

a

s p e c i f i c

m o t o r

r e s p o n s e a n d / o r

l e a r n i n g

t o

make

s u c h

a

r e s p o n s e

i n

t h e p r e s e n c e

o f

a

s p e c i f i c s t i m u -

l u s .

I t

i s p o s s i b l e t h a t

t h e

s u b j e c t s

w e r e

c a p a -

b l e o f

r e s p o n d i n g

more

a p p r o p r i a t e l y

t o t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n s

b e f o r e

t r a i n i n g t h a n

w a s

i n d i c a t e d

b y

t h e i r

p e r f o r m a n c e

d u r i n g t h e

i n i t i a l

b a s e -

l i n e

p e r i o d , b u t

t h a t

t h e y

m e r e l y f a i l e d

t o

r e -

s p o n d

f o r

m o t i v a t i o n a l

r e a s o n s . Th e

r e i n f o r c e -

ment a d m i n i s t e r e d

t o

r e s p o n s e s

d u r i n g

t r a i n -

i n g

t h u s

m ay n o t

h a v e

i n f l u e n c e d

l e a r n i n g

b u t

r a t h e r

i n c r e a s e d

t h e

p r o b a b i l i t y

o f

t h e

s u b j e c t

u t i l i z i n g

r e s p o n s e s

a l r e a d y i n

h i s b e h a v i o r a l

r e p e r t o i r e .

T h i s

c o n t e n t i o n

i s

s u p p o r t e d b y

t h e

f a c t t h a t i n

t h e

m a j o r i t y

o f

i n s t a n c e s

w h e r e

a

s u b j e c t

f r e q u e n t l y

r e s p o n d e d

i n

a n

a p p r o -

p r i a t e

manner

d u r i n g

t r a i n i n g t o

a s p e c i f i c

i n -

s t r u c t i o n

h e

a l s o

r e s p o n d e d

a p p r o p r i a t e l y

a t

l e a s t

o n c e

t o t h i s

s a m e i n s t r u c t i o n

d u r i n g

t h e

i n i t i a l

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d .

F o r

b o t h

s u b j e c t s , t h e

g e n e r a l

t r e n d

o f i n -

c r e m e n t s i n

c o r r e c t

r e s p o n d i n g

d u r i n g t h e

t r a i n i n g

p e r i o d

and

d e c r e m e n t s d u r i n g

t h e

b a s e l i n e

p e r i o d s

w e r e

b y a n d

l a r g e

r e f l e c t e d i n

t h e

f r e q u e n c i e s

o f c o r r e c t

r e s p o n s e s

t h a t t h e y

made t o

i n d i v i d u a l

i n s t r u c t i o n s .

H o w e v e r ,

t h e r e

w e r e

s e v e r a l

i n s t r u c t i o n s t o

w h i c h

t h e

s u b j e c t s

s e l d o m

o r

n e v e r

r e s p o n d e d

c o r r e c t l y .

I n

g e n e r a l ,

t h e s e

w e r e

e i t h e r

i n s t r u c t i o n s

t h a t

w e r e

l o n g e r

and

more

c o m p l e x ( e . g . ,

p u t t h e

p e n c i l

n e x t

t o

t h e

b o x ) o r

i n s t r u c t i o n s

t h a t

c o n t a i n e d w o r d s

t h a t

t h e

s u b j e c t s d i d

n o t

r e -

s p o n d

t o

( k n o w )

i n

o t h e r

v e r b a l

c o n t e x t s a s

w e l l

( d e t e r m i n e d

v i a

i n f o r m a l

t e s t i n g

p r o c e -

d u r e s ) .

T h i s

f i n d i n g

s u g g e s t s

t h a t i t

m i g h t

b e

i m -

p o r t a n t

t o

e x a m i n e

c a r e f u l l y

a n d

e v a l u a t e

t h e

f o r m a t

a n d

w o r d s u s e d i n

d e s i g n i n g a n

a d e -

q u a t e

i n s t r u c t i o n a l

t r a i n i n g p r o c e d u r e .

C o n -

s i d e r i n g

t h e

f o r m a t o f t h e

i n s t r u c t i o n ,

i t

w o u l d

s e e m m o r e

e f f i c i e n t

b e f o r e

t r a i n i n g

a

s u b j e c t

t o

r e s p o n d t o a

c o m p l e x

co m m a nd

  e . g . ,

p i c k

u p

t h e

p e n c i l

a n d

p u t

i t

i n t h e

b o x )

t o

f i r s t i n -

s u r e t h a t

h e

h a s

m a s t e r e d t h e

s e p a r a t e

c o m p o -

n e n t r e s p o n s e s

t o

t h e t w o

s i m p l e

i n s t r u c t i o n s

w i t h i n

s u c h

a

c o m p l e x c o m m a n d .

M o r e o v e r , i t

m i g h t a l s o

b e a d v i s a b l e

t o u s e

a

w o r d

i n

a

s i m p l e

o r

c o m p l e x

i n s t r u c t i o n

o n l y

i f

t h e

s u b -

j e c t

a l r e a d y   k n e w i t s

e m p i r i c a l

r e f e r e n t .

A l -

t h o u g h

a c h i l d

c a n

a n d

p r o b a b l y

d o e s l e a r n

t h e

  m e a n i n g

o f a

w o r d i n t h e

p r o c e s s o f

l e a r n i n g

a n

a p p r o p r i a t e m o t o r

r e s p o n s e t o

a n

i n s t r u c t i o n

i n v o l v i n g t h a t

w o r d , i t

m i g h t

b e

more

e f f i c i e n t f i r s t t o

t e a c h

t h e

c h i l d

t h e v e r b a l

l a b e l

f o r a

s t i m u l u s o b j e c t b e f o r e

i n c o r p o r a t -

i n g

i t

i n t o

a n

i n s t r u c t i o n .

W h e t h e r o r

n o t t h i s l a t t e r

s u g g e s t i o n i s

a d -

v i s a b l e ,

h o w e v e r ,

i s

a n e m p i r i c a l

q u e s t i o n .

E x -

p r e s s i v e t r a i n i n g

h a s b e e n s h o w n

t o

g e n e r a l i z e

t o

r e c e p t i v e

d i s c r i m i n a t i o n s

( D i c k e r s o n ,

G i r a r -

d e a u , a n d

S p r a d l i n , 1 9 6 4 ;

H a m i l t o n ,

1 9 6 6 ) ,

b u t

r e s u l t s

b y G u e s s

( 1 9 6 9 )

s u g g e s t t h a t

r e c e p t i v e

c o m p r e h e n s i o n

m a y

b e

f u n c t i o n a l l y

i n d e p e n -

d e n t

o f

e x p r e s s i v e s p e e c h .

I n

h i s s t u d y ,

h o w -

e v e r ,

o n l y t h e e f f e c t

o f

r e c e p t i v e

t r a i n i n g

on

e x p r e s s i v e

s p e e c h w a s

e x a m i n e d .

Th e

q u e s t i o n

o f w h a t

e f f e c t

e x p r e s s i v e

s p e e c h

t r a i n i n g

h a s

o n

r e c e p t i v e

c o m p r e h e n s i o n w a s

n o t

e v a l u a t e d

b y G u e s s

a n d

n e e d s t o b e

e x a m i n e d f u r t h e r .

I n

s u m m a r y ,

t h i s

s t u d y

s u g g e s t s t h a t

r e i n -

f o r c e m e n t ,

g u i d a n c e ,

a n d

f a d i n g

p r o c e d u r e s

c a n b e u s e d

e f f e c t i v e l y t o

p r o d u c e a n d

m a i n -

t a i n

i n s t r u c t i o n a l

c o n t r o l o f

b e h a v i o r i n

s e -

v e r e l y

r e t a r d e d

c h i l d r e n

w h e r e

s u c h c o n t r o l

i s

v i r t u a l l y

a b s e n t t o

b e g i n

w i t h .

M o r e o v e r ,

i t i s

p a r t i c u l a r l y

i m p o r t a n t

t o n o t e

t h a t t h e

t w o

c h i l d r e n

i n

t h i s

s t u d y d e v e l o p e d

i n s t r u c t i o n -

f o l l o w i n g

b e h a v i o r s e v e n

t h o u g h t h e y

w e r e a l -

m o s t

c o m p l e t e l y

d e f i c i e n t

i n

e x p r e s s i v e

s p e e c h .

T h e r e

w a s

a l s o

a

s t r o n g

i n d i c a t i o n

t h a t s u c h

p r o c e d u r e s w i l l

a l s o

c o n c o m i t a n t l y

f a c i l i t a t e

a p p r o p r i a t e

r e s p o n d i n g

t o

i n s t r u c t i o n s

n o t d i -

r e c t l y

i n v o l v e d

i n t h e

t r a i n i n g

p r o g r a m . I n

d e v e l o p i n g

r e i n f o r c e m e n t

p r o c e d u r e s f o r

u s e

w i t h

r e t a r d e d

c h i l d r e n ,

i t

s e e m s

i m p e r a t i v e

t h a t

s u c h a

g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

e f f e c t o c c u r i f

s u c h

t e c h n i q u e s a r e

t o b e

o f

r e a l

u s e

t o

s p e c i a l

e d u -

2 8 9

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8/20/2019 Whitman, T. L., Zakaras, M. & Chardos, S. (1971). «Effects of Reinforcement and Guidance Procedures on Instruct…

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2 9 0

THOMAS

L .

WHITMAN

e t

a l .

c a t i o n

t e a c h e r s . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , t h e r e

h a s

b e e n

t o o

l i t t l e e m p h a s i s

o n

t h e d e v e l o p m e n t

a n d

e v a l u a t i o n

o f b e h a v i o r

m o d i f i c a t i o n t e c h -

n i q u e s

t h a t p r o m o t e g e n e r a l i z a t i o n

t o r e -

s p o n s e s b e y o n d

t h o s e

i m m e d i a t e l y

i n v o l v e d

w i t h t h e

t r a i n i n g

p r o c e d u r e .

REFERENCES

A y l l o n ,

T . and A z r i n , N . H .

R e i n f o r c e m e n t and i n -

s t r u c t i o n s

w i t h m e n t a l p a t i e n t s .

J o u r n a l

o f

E x p e r i -

m e n t a l

A n a l y s i s o f B e h a v i o r , 1 9 6 4 ,

7 , 3 2 7 - 3 3 1 .

B a e r ,

D . M . ,

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R .

F . , and

S h e r m a n , J . A . The

d e v e l o p m e n t o f

i m i t a t i o n b y r e i n f o r c i n g

b e h a v i o r a l

s i m i l a r i t y

t o a m o d e l .

J o u r n a l o f

t h e

E x p e r i m e n t a l

A n a l y s i s o f B e h a v i o r ,

1 9 6 7 , 1 0 ,

4 0 5 - 4 1 6 .

B a r o n , A . , Kaufman, A . , a n d S t a u b e r , K a t h l e e n

A . E f -

f e c t s

o f i n s t r u c t i o n s

a n d

r e i n f o r c e m e n t - f e e d b a c k

on

human

o p e r a n t

b e h a v i o r m a i n t a i n e d b y

f i x e d i n t e r -

v a l

r e i n f o r c e m e n t .

J o u r n a l o f

E x p e r i m e n t a l

A n a l y s i s

o f

B e h a v i o r , 1 9 6 9 , 1 2 ,

7 0 1 - 7 1 2 .

Bowman, F . J .

A

s t u d y o f

t h e

e f f e c t s

o f

t w o

d i f f e r e n t

m e t h o d s

o f

t e a c h i n g

w o r d

c o m p r e h e n s i o n .

P a r s o n s

R e s e a r c h

P r o j e c t

W o r k i n g

P a p e r

N o .

2 4 a ,

1 9 6 0 .

D i c k e r s o n , D .

J . ,

G i r a r d e a u ,

F .

L . ,

a n d

S p r a d l i n ,

J .

F .

V e r b a l

p r e - t r a i n i n g

a n d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n

l e a r n i n g

b y

r e t a r d a t e s .

A m e r i c a n

J o u r n a l o f

M e n t a l

D e f i c i e n c y ,

1 9 6 4 ,

6 8 ,

4 7 6 - 4 8 4 .

H a m i l t o n , J .

L e a r n i n g

o f a

g e n e r a l i z e d

r e s p o n s e

c l a s s

i n

m e n t a l l y

r e t a r d e d

i n d i v i d u a l s .

A m e r i c a n

J o u r n a l

o f

M e n t a l

D e f i c i e n c y ,

1 9 6 6 ,

7 1 ,

1 0 0 - 1 0 8 .

J o h n s o n ,

G .

O . ,

C a p o b i a n c o ,

R .

J . ,

a n d

M i l l e r ,

P .

Y .

S p e e c h

a n d

l a n g u a g e

d e v e l o p m e n t

o f a

g r o u p

o f

m e n t a l l y

d e f i c i e n t

c h i l d r e n

e n r o l l e d

i n a

t r a i n i n g

p r o g r a m .

E x c e p t i o n a l

C h i l d r e n ,

1 9 6 0 ,

2 7 ,

7 2 - 7 7 .

M e c h a n , M. J . The d e v e l o p m e n t a n d

a p p l i c a t i o n o f

p r o c e d u r e s f o r m e a s u r i n g

s p e e c h i m p r o v e m e n t i n

m e n t a l l y

d e f e c t i v e c h i l d r e n .

A m e r i c a n

J o u r n a l o f

M e n t a l D e f i c i e n c y ,

1 9 5 5 , 6 0 ,

3 0 1 - 3 0 6 .

S a c h s ,

M. H .

A s u r v e y

and e v a l u a t i o n

o f

t h e

e x i s t i n g

i n t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p

b e t w e e n

s p e e c h

and

m e n t a l d e f i -

c i e n c i e s .

U n p u b l i s h e d

m a s t e r ' s

t h e s i s ,

U n i v e r s i t y o f

V i r g i n i a ,

1 9 5 1

( a b s t r a c t

S p e e c h M o n o g r a p h , 1 9 5 2 ,

1 9 , 1 9 7 - 1 9 8 ) .

S c h l a n g e r , B . B . S p e e c h

e x a m i n a t i o n o f a g r o u p o f

i n -

s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d m e n t a l l y

h a n d i c a p p e d c h i l d r e n . J o u r -

n a l

o f S p e e c h

a n d H e a r i n g

D i s o r d e r s ,

1 9 5 3 ,

1 8 , 3 3 9 -

3 4 9 .

S c h l a n g e r ,

B .

B .

a n d

G o t t s l e b e n , R . H .

A n a l y s i s o f

s p e e c h d e f e c t s

a m o n g t h e i n s t i t u t i o n a l i z e d m e n t a l l y

r e t a r d e d . J o u r n a l o f

S p e e c h

a n d

H e a r i n g

D i s o r d e r s ,

1 9 5 7 , 2 2 ,

9 8 - 1 0 8 .

S c h n e i d e r ,

B .

a n d

V a l l o n , J . Th e r e s u l t s

o f a t h e r a p y

p r o g r a m f o r

m e n t a l l y

r e t a r d e d c h i l d r e n .

A m e r i c a n

J o u r n a l

o f

M e n t a l

D e f i c i e n c y ,

1 9 5 5 ,

5 9 ,

4 1 7 - 4 2 4 .

S p r a d l i n , J . E . L a n g u a g e

a n d

c o m m u n i c a t i o n o f

men-

t a l

d e f e c t i v e s .

I n

N . R .

E l l i s

( E d . )

Handbook o f

m e n t a l d e f i c i e n c y .

New

Y o r k :

M c G r a w - H i l l , 1 9 6 3 .

P p .

6 3 2 - 6 6 3 ,

W h i t m a n , T . L . , C a p o n i g r i

V . ,

a n d

M e r c u r i o ,

J . R .

R e d u c t i o n

o f h y p e r a c t i v e b e h a v i o r

i n a

s e v e r e l y

r e -

t a r d e d

c h i l d

t h r o u g h

r e i n f o r c e m e n t

o f a n

i n c o m -

p a t i b l e r e s p o n s e .

M e n t a l

R e t a r d a t i o n

( I n

p r e s s ) .

Zimmerman,

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H . ,

Zimmerman,

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a n d

R u s s e l ,

C . D .

D i f f e r e n t i a l

e f f e c t s

o f

t o k e n

r e i n f o r c e m e n t

o n i n -

s t r u c t i o n - f o l l o w i n g

b e h a v i o r i n

r e t a r d e d

s t u d e n t s

i n -

s t r u c t e d

a s a

g r o u p . J o u r n a l o f A p p l i e d

B e h a v i o r

A n a l y s i s ,

1 9 6 9 ,

2 ,

1 0 1 - 1 1 2 .

R e c e i v e d

1 6

November 1 9 7 0 .

( R e v i s e d

4

J u n e

1 9 7 1 . )