Acquisition and Generalization of Unsupervised Responding: A Descriptive Analysis

Abstract

This descriptive study examined the unsupervised responding of a young man with profound handicaps and a lifelong history of dependence. Two objectives were pursued: (a) to establish independent, unsupervised task responding with a stimulus and reinforcer fading procedure; and (b) to assess generalization of unsupervised performance across tasks and settings. The data showed that, initially, the participant did not display unsupervised responding, even though a clear contingency was described prior to the work session. Following the fading procedure, high rates of independent performance were exhibited, which were then maintained with post-session contingencies. In addition, generalization occurred to three other unsupervised tasks that had not been subjected to within-session interventions. Although the design prohibits definitive conclusions, the results delineate variables and suggest directions for future research in the areas of stimulus control, generalization, and normalized contingencies.