Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE.

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Linguistics

Background:

• Verbal operant analysis extends functional analysis to verbal behavior.
• This approach is highly relevant for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and related developmental disabilities.
• It involves controlling environmental factors influencing language and measuring verbal operant strength.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and detail the application of verbal operant analysis.
• To establish a quantitative method for assessing verbal behavior.
• To provide a framework for developing individualized language learning plans.

Main Methods:

• Controlled assessment of environmental factors affecting language.
• Measurement of response strength across four verbal operant classes: tact, mand, echoic, and sequelic.
• Utilizing the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation (SCoRE) to quantify the relative strength of verbal operants.

Main Results:

• The SCoRE provides a statistic summarizing the speaker's verbal repertoire strength.
• This statistic allows for pre/post testing comparisons and randomized controlled trials.
• Results yield an individualized hierarchy of stimulus control across verbal operants.

Conclusions:

• Verbal operant analysis offers a precise method for evaluating language skills.
• The SCoRE statistic enables objective comparison of verbal behavior.
• This analysis facilitates the creation of tailored, errorless language learning treatment plans.