Optimizing rewards to support learning in people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Official title: Optimizing Dimensions of Reinforcement to Enhance Behavioral Interventions
Run by Auburn University · NCT07137273 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test different timings and amounts of small rewards to see if they help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities learn simple tasks and stay motivated.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 6 Years to 17 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Auburn University Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Auburn, Alabama and 2 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 7, 2024 |
| Main results expected | August 2026 |
| Study ends | August 2026 |
| Registry record updated | August 27, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07137273 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people aged 6 or older with a documented intellectual or developmental disability who can follow simple instructions, participate in tabletop choice tasks, and display measurable problem behavior during sessions.
✕Probably not a fit
People with severe sensory or motor impairments that prevent participation in tabletop tasks, or those unable to attend repeated sessions, are unlikely to benefit from this behavioral laboratory study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
Participants will complete simple tabletop tasks where correct responses earn small rewards, and researchers will systematically change when rewards are given and how large they are. The design is guided by the Mathematical Principles of Reinforcement and focuses on response rate, accuracy, and persistence across repeated sessions. No medications or invasive procedures are involved; sessions are behavioral and short in duration. Data will be modeled statistically to identify which reinforcement parameters best support skill acquisition and maintenance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help caregivers and therapists use rewards more effectively to speed learning and maintain new skills in individuals with IDD.
How similar studies have gone: Extensive operant-conditioning research shows timing and magnitude of reinforcement affect behavior, but applying the Mathematical Principles of Reinforcement specifically to optimize parameters for people with IDD in applied teaching settings is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: At least 6 years of age Documented neurodevelopmental condition Engagement in problem behavior (e.g., aggression, self-injury, property destruction) that can be measured during study sessions Ability to follow simple instructions Ability to participate in tabletop choice-based tasks Availability to complete all scheduled study sessions Provision of informed consent by participant or legally authorized representative Exclusion Criteria: Severe sensory or motor impairments that would prevent participation in tabletop tasks Current or recent participation (within the past 30 days) in another interventional behavioral research study that could interfere with study outcomes Medical or behavioral conditions judged by investigators to pose a safety risk or interfere with data collection
Where it's running
-
Center for Autism Research, Treatment, and Training
Auburn, Alabama, United States Recruiting -
Kennedy Krieger Institute
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Recruiting -
Oakland University
Rochester Hills, Michigan, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: John M Falligant, PhD — Auburn University
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.