Davis, C. A., & Reichle, J. (1996).
Variant and invariant high-probability requests: Increasing appropriate behaviors in children with emotional-behavioral disorders.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
29, 471-481.
This study examined the effects of variant versus invariant
high-probability (high-p) request sequences on the
performance of requests to initiate a social bid by young
children with emotional-behavioral disorders. In the initial
phases of the investigation, a multiple baseline design showed
that the delivery of invariant sequences (i.e., high-p
requests delivered in the same sequence) produced initial
increases in compliance to requests to initiate a social bid to a
peer. However, increases were not maintained across the invariant
condition. The delivery of variant high-p sequences
produced increases in compliance to requests to initiate social
bids that were maintained across the variant condition. In a
follow-up condition, the number of requests within the pool of
the variant and invariant high-p requests were controlled.
Results of the follow-up condition replicated those found in the
initial condition. Implications for applied use and future
research are discussed.
DESCRIPTORS: high-probability requests, behavioral momentum,
emotional-behavioral disorders, peer intervention