Increasing on‐task behavior of an adolescent with autism using momentary differential reinforcement

Abstract

Compliance is often defined as the completion of a discrete task specified by a preceding instruction. However, compliance could also require the completion of a cluster of tasks, such as cleaning a room, getting ready for bed, or doing homework. We conducted this study to determine if a momentary differential reinforcement schedule would increase the on‐task behavior of an adolescent with autism. The momentary differential reinforcement involved repeated momentary supervision checks, with tokens delivered for appropriate task engagement at that moment. The participant completed math worksheets and remained on task as the number of supervisions was faded from one every 30 s to one every 5 min.