Student Research Symposium Program Portal: Submission #188

Abstract The purpose of the present study is to replicate and extend functional analysis procedures described by Plavnick and Ferreri (2013) to examine multiple topographies of communication and the motivating operations under which they occur in young children with autism spectrum disorder. One child aged 2–6 years with a limited vocal repertoire and established nonverbal communication will participate. A paired-stimulus preference assessment will identify preferred stimuli for experimental conditions. Using a multielement design, communication responses will be assessed across play (control), attention, tangible, and demand conditions to identify differential responding associated with specific environmental contingencies. Dependent variables will include the frequency or latency of gestural communication topographies identified through indirect assessment and pilot probes. A secondary purpose is to evaluate the correspondence between indirect assessment outcomes and directly observed communication behaviors. Results are expected to clarify the functional relations between motivating operations and communication responses, supporting the development of function-based interventions to promote spontaneous manding prior to the emergence of problem behavior. This study contributes to prevention-oriented assessment practices in applied behavior analysis and early communication intervention.