A preliminary investigation of eye-tracking software to inform an ABA renewal mitigation procedure

Abstract

ABA renewal is one type of operant renewal in which a target response is reinforced in a unique context (i.e., Context A), extinguished in novel context (i.e., Context B), and then recurs following a transition back to the original context. Recently, researchers have examined the robust phenomenon of ABA renewal when differential reinforcement of an alternative response is included in Context B and the renewal test. One method to mitigate ABA renewal is to program common stimuli so as to increase the similarity between Context A and Context B. This stimulus control strategy may support the generalization of behavior change between contexts. Currently, no studies exist on how to empirically derive the selection of the stimuli to program into Context B. We conducted a preliminary investigation using eye-tracking software to empirically determine which common stimulus to program into a three-phase ABA renewal arrangement that included differential reinforcement for 12 undergraduate students in a translational preparation. Our results replicate previous research demonstrating ABA renewal despite differential reinforcement contingencies. Further, ABA renewal may be less robust and more variable when common stimuli selected for programming are empirically determined using eye-tracking software.