A Progression to Transfer RIRD to the Natural Environment
RIRD keeps stereotypy low for 30-minute natural play sessions, though a signal alone won’t do the job.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Martinez et al. (2016) asked if RIRD could keep vocal stereotypy low during long, natural play sessions.
They stretched the sessions to 30 minutes and added a signal that told the child when RIRD was active.
What they found
Stereotypy stayed low for the full 30 minutes, even in a regular playroom.
The signal alone did not control the behavior; the full RIRD package was still needed.
How this fits with other research
Becraft et al. (2018) showed that clear S+ and S- signals help preschoolers follow DRL schedules, but Martinez found a signal alone was not enough for RIRD.
TCruz-Montecinos et al. (2024) used DRL as a group contingency for five autistic boys and cut vocal disruptions; Martinez extends this by showing RIRD also works when sessions grow longer.
Jessel et al. (2014) warned that full-session DRL can shut down all responding, yet Martinez kept behavior low without losing it, suggesting RIRD may dodge that trap.
Why it matters
You can run RIRD for a full half-hour in the playroom without losing effect. Keep the full procedure; the signal by itself is not enough. Try it next time a parent wants therapy to look like real life.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Response interruption and redirection has been shown to be effective for decreasing vocal stereotypy, but treatment effects in the natural environment have yet to be documented in the literature. A recent review indicated the paucity of studies that implemented response interruption and redirection during typically occurring activities or for sessions longer than 5–10 min. One method to promote generalization across settings may be stimulus control procedures. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the progression of the intervention from a highly structured to a more natural setting, and across longer durations. We also investigated the extent to which a signal could acquire stimulus control over stereotypy. Although we were unable to bring stereotypy under the inhibitory control of a signal alone, we maintained low levels of stereotypy in the natural environment and ultimately extended sessions up to 30 min. Clinical implications and areas for future research are discussed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Behavioral Interventions, 2016 · doi:10.1002/bin.1444