Component analysis of a self-monitoring intervention for increasing task engagement for individuals with...

Area of Science:

• Behavioral science
• Developmental disabilities research
• Intervention strategies

Background:

• Self-monitoring (SM) is utilized in interventions to improve skills for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
• The standalone efficacy of SM for enhancing task engagement in IDD populations requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the effectiveness of different components of a self-monitoring intervention for increasing task engagement in individuals with IDD.
• To determine the impact of self-monitoring alone versus combined with differential reinforcement strategies.

Main Methods:

• Five individuals with IDD participated in the study.
• Sequential analyses examined SM alone, SM + differential reinforcement (DR) for accurate SM, SM + DR for accurate SM and task engagement, and DR for task engagement.
• Participants were trained in accurate self-monitoring.

Main Results:

• Self-monitoring alone did not improve task engagement.
• SM combined with DR for accurate SM enhanced SM accuracy for all participants but increased engagement for only two.
• SM combined with DR for both accurate SM and task engagement improved engagement for the remaining participants.
• Sustained high engagement levels were observed when reinforcement for engagement was provided without SM.

Conclusions:

• Self-monitoring interventions require the integration of differential reinforcement strategies to effectively increase task engagement in individuals with IDD.
• The findings offer valuable insights for designing more effective behavioral interventions for individuals with IDD.