An Establishing Operation for Academic Response Acquisition: Testing the Effects of an Establishing Operation on Response Acquisition and Its ... on Performance Tasks of Children with Autism

Motivation is key to all instructional effectiveness and is perhaps more difficult to create with children who have developmental disabilities. The study discussed in this monograph tested the effects of an establishing operation procedure on subsequent academic responding of 6 children with autism. The procedure, sampling, consisted of delivering verbal and social play prior to instructional sessions compared to sessions not preceded by sampling. These were compared using a multiple elemental experimental design. The findings showed a functional relationship between the pre-instructional sampling session and correct responding that occurred during subsequent academic instruction. The results of the study are meaningful as it presents a method for increasing motivation for accuracy in the learning of new skills for children with autism.