Procedures to increase social interaction among adolescents with autism: a multiple baseline analysis

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social deficits, including impaired relationships and communication.
• These challenges hinder effective integration into educational and social settings.
• Targeting verbal initiations is crucial for improving social interaction in adolescents with ASD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of covert reinforcement, an imagery procedure, in increasing peer verbal initiations.
• To examine the influence of therapist requests on the effectiveness of the intervention.
• To assess the impact of individual training sessions on social communication skills in adolescents with ASD.

Main Methods:

• A multiple baseline analysis design was employed.
• The study involved three adolescent subjects diagnosed with ASD.
• Covert reinforcement techniques were implemented during individual training sessions.

Main Results:

• The intervention demonstrated a significant increase in peer verbal initiations.
• Individual training sessions were effective in modifying verbal initiation behaviors.
• The study provided insights into the demand characteristics of therapist requests in this population.

Conclusions:

• Covert reinforcement is a viable method for enhancing social communication skills in adolescents with ASD.
• The findings suggest that targeted interventions can improve peer interactions.
• Further research is warranted to explore the broader applications of imagery procedures in autism interventions.