News and Knowledge

In October 2012, OAR’s Board of Directors approved 12 new studies for a total of $355,000 in funding through its annual applied research competition. These research efforts, nine of which are now underway, are poised to advance our understanding of autism and how to effectively support those affected by it. This month, we feature previews of two more of these new studies.

Using Lag Schedules of Reinforcement to Teach Play Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Researcher: Russell Lang, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Texas State University College of Education
Funding amount: $29,278; one-year grant period

This study focuses on teaching play to children with autism in classrooms through the use of lag reinforcement schedules.  These schedules seek to increase desired variability in behavior; a response is reinforced if it differs from a specified number of previous responses (Lee, McComas, & Jawor, 2002), which can be a helpful technique to use with children who are struggling with repetitive and restrictive patterns of play. The study aims to examine:

• Previous criticisms of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) based play interventions
• The effects of play intervention in classroom settings
• How lag reinforcement schedules affect the generalization of play behaviors

Dr. Lang believes this study will yield results with meaningful implications for applied practice: increased play behaviors, decreased stereotypy, new forms of play, generalization of play behaviors across settings, and maintenance of these behaviors over time. As part of the study, he also expects parents to report that their children’s play is both happier and more acceptable.

Health-Related Quality of Life and its Determinants in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Researcher: Rahul Khanna, Ph.D., University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy
Funding amount: $28,367; one-year grant period

Most studies about autism have focused on the effects it has on children and do not shed enough light on the chronic impact the disorder can have as these children mature into adults. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that influence the adult population, primarily focusing on health-related quality of life (HQROL). This measure refers to the physical, psychological, and social domains of an individual’s health that are influenced by his or her experiences and perceptions of the world.

Through an online survey of about 2,000 young adults with autism (18-21 years old ), Dr. Khanna hopes to identify the role that disorder severity, social supports, coping, and the use of autism treatment services has on health outcomes and treatment. HQROL has become a key component of healthcare assessments, and Dr. Khanna surmises that the outcomes of this study will assist policy makers in creating and designing better interventions for adults with autism.