Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Seven G. Little

Abstract

Reinforcement is crucial to an individual’s quality of life and acquisition/maintenance of novel skills, but a limited bank of reinforcers could lead to a reduction in engagement with pre-established reinforcers, reducing the motivational strength to contrive teaching opportunities, and increase maladaptive behaviors, self-stimulatory behaviors, or idle time. Though the stimulus-stimulus paring (SSP) method has been effective in establishing novel reinforcers for individuals who are diagnosed with autism, there is a gap in the literature on cross-cultural variations seen among responses when using SSP. This study was conducted to determine the generalizability of the effect when using the method of SSP with Bermudian participants, as Bermuda’s culture is influenced by several cultures. This study used secondary data collected at a local intervention center that utilizes applied behavior analysis in their behavior plans and interventions. The results for all three participants demonstrated (a) an increase in engagement with the targeted stimuli, (b) ascending data trends within their overall SSP intervention, and (c) a percentage of nonoverlapping data points between the pre-intervention baseline and post-intervention baseline were 80% or greater. These findings can assist therapists by equipping them with culture-specific evidence-based strategies, which can be socially significant for their clients, their client’s families, and the community as a whole.

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