Comparing a Modified Structured Mix with a Modified Random Rotation Procedure to Teach Auditory-Visual Conditional Discriminations to Children with Autism

Abstract

We evaluated two procedures to teach auditory-visual conditional discriminations (receptive labeling) to children with autism. The procedures evaluated a modified Structured Mix (SM) procedure and a modified counterbalanced Random Rotation (RR) procedure. The modified SM procedure was based on the logic of simplifying the task by breaking it down into smaller, successive steps and by requiring mastery of each step before introducing the next. Compared to previous studies, the modified SM procedure contained fewer steps, less prompting, and less stringent mastery criteria. The modified RR procedure targeted all three stimuli simultaneously by presenting them across consecutive trials, both during training and error correction. Sample stimuli were presented in a counterbalanced random order and the comparison stimuli were presented in counterbalanced random positions. Participants were nine children with autism. An adapted alternating treatments design was used. Results showed that the modified SM procedure was more efficient for four of the nine participants, the modified RR procedure was more efficient for one of the nine participants, both procedures were equally efficient for two participants, and neither procedure was effective for two of the nine participants. The modified SM procedure appeared more efficient than the SM procedure employed in previous studies. Despite results, further research is warranted to examine within subject comparisons between original discrimination training procedures and modified procedures.