FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS SCREENING FOR PROBLEM BEHAVIOR MAINTAINED BY AUTOMATIC REINFORCEMENT

A common finding in previous research is that problem behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement continues to occur in the alone condition of a functional analysis (FA), whereas behavior maintained by social reinforcement typically is extinguished. Thus, the alone condition may represent an effi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied behavior analysis 2013, Vol.46 (1), p.47-60
Main Authors: Querim, Angie C., Iwata, Brian A., Roscoe, Eileen M., Schlichenmeyer, Kevin J., Ortega, Javier Virués, Hurl, Kylee E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Attention
automatic reinforcement
Behavior
Behavior disorders
Behavior Problems
Behavior Therapy - methods
Behavioral Symptoms - physiopathology
Behavioral Symptoms - psychology
Behavioral Symptoms - therapy
Child
Children & youth
Extinction, Psychological - physiology
Families & family life
Female
functional analysis
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Outcome Assessment (Health Care)
Play and Playthings
Reinforcement (Psychology)
Reinforcement Schedule
Reproducibility of Results
screening
Self destructive behavior
Social Reinforcement
Teenagers
Therapists
Topography
Treatment Outcome
Young Adult
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Summary:A common finding in previous research is that problem behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement continues to occur in the alone condition of a functional analysis (FA), whereas behavior maintained by social reinforcement typically is extinguished. Thus, the alone condition may represent an efficient screening procedure when maintenance by automatic reinforcement is suspected. We conducted a series of 5‐min alone (or no‐interaction) probes for 30 cases of problem behavior and compared initial predictions of maintenance or extinction to outcomes obtained in subsequent FAs. Results indicated that data from the screening procedure accurately predicted that problem behavior was maintained by automatic reinforcement in 21 of 22 cases and by social reinforcement in 7 of 8 cases. Thus, results of the screening accurately predicted the function of problem behavior (social vs. automatic reinforcement) in 28 of 30 cases.
ISSN:0021-8855
1938-3703
DOI:10.1002/jaba.26