Research has shown a positive correlation between time spent on homework and learning. However, students often engage in off-task behaviors to escape the demands of homework. Youth with emotional or behavioral disorders (EBD) are especially likely to engage in off-task behaviors. Effective interventions to increase on-task behavior during homework…

The study examined the effects of object self-stimulation on the task-interrupting self-stimulatory behavior and prevocational work responses of a 13-year-old autistic boy. Findings suggested that the reinforcing effects of object self-stimulation may be used to increase desired behaviors and to decrease task-interfering behaviors. (Author/JW)

Prompting, positive and negative reinforcement, and a gradually extended reinforcement schedule were used with three autistic clients (two six-year-olds and one adolescent) to teach them to maintain on-task behaviors without constant supervision. Results indicated that appropriate behavior could be successfully maintained with only infrequent and…