Using matrix training to promote recombinative generalization by children on the autism spectrum in China.

Abstract

We implemented tact matrix training to teach tacts of spatial locations to four children (male, 4-7 years of age) on the autism spectrum in China. The experimental design involved a multiple-probe design across participants with pre- and postinstruction probes on untaught tacts and listener responses. Learning outcomes included taught tacts of object-preposition combinations, generalization of untaught tacts, and derived listener responses to all combinations in the matrix. All four participants acquired taught tacts after matrix training. Untaught tacts and listener responses were demonstrated with direct teaching, indicating the occurrence of recombinative generalization. Two participants maintained these skills with high accuracy for 4 or 8 weeks. The remaining two participants demonstrated high accuracy in untaught tacts and listener responses immediately after instruction; however, accuracy in taught and untaught tacts declined during the 4- or 8-week maintenance probes, whereas listener responses remained stable.