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Observational learning and children with autism: discrimination training of known and unknown stimuli

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Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis / Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis

Published online on

Abstract

--- - |2 We extended past observational learning research by incorporating stimuli already known to participants into training. We used a multiple‐baseline design across three participants to determine the effects of discrimination training on the discrimination of consequences applied to modeled responses using both known and unknown pictures. During baseline, participants were exposed to modeled correct and incorrect picture labels and were observed to imitate modeled responses that were incorrect and followed by negative feedback. During discrimination training, we taught participants to label known pictures regardless of observed responses and consequences. With unknown pictures, we taught participants to imitate correct and reinforced modeled responses, and to say, “I don't know,” when modeled responses were incorrect and received negative feedback. Test sessions measured responding to known and unknown pictures and showed acquisition over baseline levels. Generalization to pictures not associated with training was variable. Implications for teaching observational learning to children with autism are discussed. - Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Volume 51, Issue 4, Page 802-818, Fall 2018.