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Overselective stimulus control in residential school students with intellectual disabilities
Chata A Dickson1, Sharon S Wang, Kristin M Lombard
1Psychological Sciences Division, UMMS Shriver Center, 200 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452, USA.
Research in Developmental Disabilities
|November 18, 2005
Summary
Overselective stimulus control, where individuals focus on irrelevant features, was found in 18 of 29 students with developmental disabilities. This behavior was more common with higher Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule scores and on specific matching tasks.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Developmental Disabilities Research
- Special Education
Background:
- Overselective stimulus control is a phenomenon where individuals respond to irrelevant features of a stimulus.
- Understanding this behavior is crucial for individuals with developmental disabilities in educational settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the prevalence of overselective stimulus control in students at residential schools for developmental disabilities.
- To identify factors associated with overselective stimulus control in this population.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-nine students with developmental disabilities participated.
- Three delayed identity matching-to-sample tasks (Form/Color, Two-Sample, Faces) were used to test for overselectivity.
- Participants also completed the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test III (PPVT) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
Main Results:
- Eighteen out of 29 participants (62%) exhibited overselective stimulus control on at least one test.
- Overselectivity was more probable in individuals with higher ADOS scores.
- The Two-Sample Test was the most sensitive in detecting overselective stimulus control.
Conclusions:
- Overselective stimulus control is prevalent among students in residential special education programs.
- This behavior can occur across a range of cognitive and diagnostic profiles within this population.
- Further research is needed to understand the implications and interventions for overselective stimulus control.