Document Type
Thesis - campus only access
Date of Award
Spring 1975
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
Advisor
Robert Adams
Abstract
A non-verbal child was conditioned by operant techniques to imitate verbal items and name objects in pictures. The subject was rewarded for accurate imitations of the training items. Training was done by the concurrent method in which three items were learned to criterion before another group of three items was presented. There were three experimental conditions. In Condition One, the subject was rewarded for correctly imitating a word. Reinforcement in Condition Two was contingent upon the subject being able to name an object in a picture. A single session of preemptive reinforcement followed Condition Two. Condition Three was the imitation of word phrases. The subject attained high rates of correct responses during Conditions One and Two and demonstrated some ability to imitate word phrases in Condition Three. An increase of correct verbalizations was noted at the end of the training program. Generalization effects were not noted. The study indicates the effectiveness of operant techniques in increasing speech in non-verbal children. It also suggests the importance of continued operant training for some subjects by teaching parents the training method and continuing the reinforcement program in the home.
Recommended Citation
Petty, John S., "Effects of Imitation, Reinforcement, and Concurrent Training in Increasing Speech in a Non-Verbal Child" (1975). Master's Theses. 1583.
DOI: 10.58809/PBHA2723
Available at:
https://scholars.fhsu.edu/theses/1583
Rights
© 1975 John S. Petty
Comments
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