%0 Journal Article
%T Effects of Reinforcement on Peer Imitation in a Small Group Play Context
%A Erin E. Barton
%A Jennifer R. Ledford
%J Journal of Early Intervention
%@ 2154-3992
%D 2018
%R 10.1177/1053815117748409
%X Children with disabilities often have deficits in imitation skills, particularly in imitating peers. Imitation is considered a behavioral cusp¡ªwhich, once learned, allows a child to access additional and previously unavailable learning opportunities. In the current study, researchers examined the efficacy of contingent reinforcement delivered within a small group play context on the unprompted peer imitation (UPI) behaviors of three children with disabilities. UPI behaviors increased when contingent reinforcement was provided, and maintained with a thinned schedule of reinforcement. However, pretend play and social interactions did not increase concurrently with peer imitation
%K imitation
%K play
%K children with disabilities
%U https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1053815117748409