Script-Fading Procedures for the Acquisition of Wh-Question Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

抄録

This study examined the effects of script and script-fading procedures for wh-question skills in two children with autism spectrum disorder. It also examined the effectiveness of a behavioral chain interruption procedure, as an establishing operation (EO) manipulation strategy to increase the reinforcement value of the information obtained via questions. The behavioral chain used in the intervention was a setting in which the participants played their preferred games with a therapist. Consequently, the two participants showed acquisition of five question behaviors, including four wh-questions. They also showed maintenance of the question-asking behaviors in the follow-up phase after the intervention. In addition, one of the two participants showed generalization of question-asking behaviors in which he prepared for his studies without any intervention. The results are discussed in terms of the combined effects of the script and script-fading, and behavior chain interruption procedures, as well as the use of persistent prompts to facilitate generalization and maintenance.