Comparison of Topographically Similar and Dissimilar Positive Practice and a DRO Procedure in the Management of a Stereotypic Behavior

Abstract

The effects of topographically similar and dissimilar positive practice and a differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) procedure are compared in the management of an institutionalized retarded child's stereotypic finger-twirling. The child, who was enrolled in a self-contained special class, was observed during a 30-minute class period, 3 days a week for a total of 48 days. Topographically similar positive practice required hand movement training; dissimilar practice involved foot exercises, contingent upon each instance of observed finger-twirling. For the DRO procedure, the child was given a piece of a cookie contingent upon each 20-second time segment that excluded the target behavior. Using a multielement design, it was found that, although all experimental contingencies are superior to no treatment, the DRO procedure is more effective than either form of positive practice in reducing the behavior. Similarly, hand training is more effective than the foot movements. Several aspects of the findings and application of the multielement design in applied research are discussed.