Association for Behavior Analysis International

Applied research continues to contribute to the refinement and extension of current treatment practices within the field of behavior analysis. The present symposium consists of four data-based presentations describing extensions of various interventions for problem behavior maintained by social reinforcement. Study 1 extends previous research on noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) by evaluating the relative efficacy of NCR using maintaining (escape) versus arbitrary (an edible) reinforcers without extinction for four individuals with escape-maintained problem behavior. Study 2 describes an extension of toleration training using extinction plus stimulus fading to the treatment of precursor behavior maintained by escape from a specific peers noises by systematically fading the duration of the aversive stimulus. Study 3 extends the literature on antecedent interventions used to reduce escape-maintained problem behavior by evaluating the effects of the high-probability request sequence, following the acquisition of a functional communication response (break request), as well as using latency as an indicator of the averesiveness of task demands. The final study, describes an extension of the literature on delay fading following Functional Communication Training (FCT) by providing alternative reinforcers during delay interval for individuals with problem behavior maintained by social positive reinforcement.

NCR involves the delivery of reinforcers on a time-based schedule and often includes extinction. However, given practical limitations associated with the use of extinction, it is important to evaluate NCR without extinction. The purpose of this study was to extend previous research on NCR by evaluating the relative efficacy of NCR using maintaining versus arbitrary reinforcers without extinction for four individuals with escape-maintained problem behavior. Two different NCR conditions, NCR using the maintaining reinforcer (escape) and NCR using an arbitrary reinforcer (an edible), were evaluated using multielement and reversal designs. Interobserver agreement data were collected for 31.2% of sessions. Mean agreement was 97% for problem behavior and 95.3% for compliance across participants. Treatment effects varied across participants. For two participants, both NCR conditions were equally effective in reducing aggression. For one participant, only NCR using the maintaining reinforcer reduced problem behavior. For the final participant, both NCR conditions were ineffective until extinction was included. Both NCR conditions increased compliance to similar levels for two of the four participants. NCR (arbitrary) resulted in higher levels of compliance for one participant, whereas NCR (escape) resulted in higher levels of compliance for another participant.

Functional communication training (FCT) is one of the most thoroughly researched treatments for severe problem behavior exhibited by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The earliest stages of FCT involve providing immediate and continuous reinforcement of the functional communication response (FCR); however, maintaining continuous reinforcement is not practical as reinforcers may not always be available or appropriate. Thus, after the initial stages of treatment, therapists must teach tolerance to periods in which reinforcement is delayed or unavailable however the introduction of delays is commonly associated with increased problem behavior. The present study evaluated providing alternative reinforcers during delays following the FCR. Results indicated delay fading was more successful when alternative reinforcers were available during delay periods.