2021 Volume 45 Issue 1 Pages 139-149
In this study, we examined the duration of reinforcer access on the choice between continuous and discontinuous arrangements in two school-age children with autism spectrum disorders. In the experiment, two color cards were presented to the children, and they were asked to choose between a continuous arrangement and a discontinuous arrangement. In continuous arrangement, the reinforcer appeared to the children for a long time during which they could engage in their preferred activity after the two worksheets were completed. In discontinuous arrangement, the reinforcer appeared after one print was completed, and this was repeated twice. In the baseline condition, regardless of which card was selected, the number of worksheets the children worked on and the amount of time they spent playing were equal. In the manipulation of the duration of reinforcer access condition, only in the discontinuous arrangements was the reinforcer’s presentation time reduced. The results showed that the two children showed preference for continuous arrangements in the manipulation of duration of reinforcer access condition. The results of this study suggest that the manipulation of duration of reinforcer access could influence the choice of children with autism spectrum disorders.
