Speaker Series: Elizabeth Sansing, M.S., BCBA, LBA

Observational learning (OL) allows one to acquire novel behaviors by observing the behavior of others and discriminating the consequences those behaviors produced1. It therefore multiplies learning opportunities for an individual beyond those provided through direct experience with operant contingencies. Unfortunately, OL is often deficient for students with autism spectrum disorder2 (ASD) To establish OL, previous researchers have investigated the component skills necessary to promote OL and have evaluated methods to teach this complex operant. To extend this literature, we taught component skills to three children with ASD across three play-based tasks using videotaped models. We examined the direct and indirect effects of training by assessing OL during both in-vivo and videotaped model conditions across tasks and task variations. Results for each participant will be discussed. In addition, implications of these findings regarding stimulus control and directions for future research on OL will be discussed. Objectives:

1. Define observational learning