An evaluation of resurgence of appropriate communicative responses in children with developmental disabilities

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the conditions under which resurgence of appropriate communicative responses (mands) would occur with children with developmental disabilities. The experimental preparation consisted of a sequence of conditions that included (a) the reinforcement of one mand (i.e., microswitch activation or card exchange) on a FR 1 schedule, (b) an extinction condition in which the mand was no longer reinforced, (c) the reinforcement of a second mand (i.e., microswitch activation or card exchange) on a FR 1 schedule, and (d) a test for resurgence of the first mand which consisted of placing the second mand on extinction. The results demonstrated resurgence of mands during 2 out of 3 tests for resurgence for one participant. Resurgence of mands was demonstrated during all three tests for resurgence with the second participant.