Failure to demonstrate the differential outcomes effect in children with autism†

摘要

The differential outcomes procedure was evaluated during conditional discrimination training with three children with autism. Linking specific reinforcers to specific target responses did not produce large or consistent improvements in training efficiency compared to a nondifferential outcomes procedure. The results are discussed in the context of existing applied research on the differential outcomes effect and its relevance to skill acquisition technology. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.