| The current study extends research in the area of function-based assessment and treatment to off-task behavior in a vocational context. Two adolescents with autism who engaged in off-task behavior participated. A functional analysis of off-task behavior was conducted and showed elevated levels of off-task in both the escape and tangible conditions for both participants. Effects of a multiple schedule in which reinforcement (SR) and extinction schedules for off-task behavior operated in alternation, each in the presence of different stimuli were then assessed. After desirable amounts of off-task behavior were observed with each component, (a) schedule alternation was made contingent upon completion of a specified number of work products, (b) self-monitoring procedures were introduced, (c) the duration of the SR schedule component was reduced, (d) the number of work products required to alternate schedules was systematically increased, and (e) session duration was increased from 10 min to 30 min to emulate typical vocational conditions. Treatment effects maintained or improved following these practical schedule enhancements. An objective social validity assessment showed that participants preferred the multiple schedule treatment to either a mixed schedule or extinction alone. An additional indirect social validity assessment indicated that other stakeholders found the goals of the intervention important, the procedures acceptable, and the outcomes desirable. The results are discussed in the context of promoting vocational independence for adolescents with autism.;Keywords: autism, functional analysis, multiple schedule, off-task, self-monitoring, social validity, supported work, vocational skills. |
