Table 2.

Definitions of social behaviors.

Behavior Categories	Definition
Social Initiation	The focal student attempts to begin a new social sequence, either with verbal or non-verbal behaviors. As social behaviors can be unconventional, the presence of typical social cues (e.g. turning to a specific peer) is not required, and initiation can be made without specifying a receiver (e.g. the student repeatedly comments “I think it’ll work” when peers are present, but not specifically toward any peer). Beginning a new conversation topic is an initiation.
Social Response	The student responds to a peer’s social behavior either in verbal or non-verbal forms such as answering a question, granting a request (e.g. “yes, you can take the tape”), or extending the conversation. In a reciprocal conversation, only the first behavior is an initiation, and all the following behaviors are social responses until a change of topic.