THE STEREOTYPY ANALYSIS - AN INSTRUMENT FOR EXAMINING ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES ASSOCIATED WITH DIFFERENTIAL RATES OF STEREOTYPIC BEHAVIOR

The Stereotypy Analysis, a means of analyzing environmental variables associated with differential rates of stereotypic behavior was conduct ed with five persons having moderate to profound developmental disabil ities. The process involves partial-interval recording of the occurren ce of targeted behaviors and the presence/absence of specific environm ental events. The Stereotypy Analysis was able to detect environmental events associated with stereotypic responding for 3 of the 5 subjects . Based an the results of the Stereotypy Analysis indicated and nor-in dicated interventions were implemented for two subjects. The data obta ined using the Stereotypy Analysis were useful in determining effectiv e interventions for those subjects. Providing activities and prompts e very 15 s, later faded to every 30 s, reduced handmouthing from a mean of 40% of intervals to 13% for one subject Providing prompts every 30 s to engage in an activity decreased body rocking from 60% to 15% for tile other: Effects for both interventions were replicated using A-B- A-B designs. The not-indicated intervention was unsuccessful for one s ubject; it suggested multiple control of the behavior for the other. I mplications for behavioral theory and practice are discussed. Copyrigh t (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.