Association for Behavior Analysis International

For children with feeding disorders, typical chewing patterns often do not develop naturally (Sheppard, 2008). Children with feeding disorders frequently engage in inefficient chewing practices such as mashing food, swallowing prematurely, packing food, or immature munching patterns. One major complication in the treatment of chewing skills is the measurement of functional chewing. Interobserver agreement (IOA) for chewing is complicated by patient use of atypical chewing patterns and closed-mouth chewing. Alternatively, methods such as mastication checks require teaching a child to delay swallowing and show the feeder the chewed bite (Volkert et al., 2013). This study explores the reliability of four measures of chewing: occurrence, frequency, duration, and mastication. Two groups of trained participants observed videos of children receiving treatment for chewing. One group of observers collected data on one specific chewing behavior (low demand) while the other group (high demand) coded all relevant behaviors during the feeding session (e.g., coughing, gagging, acceptance, etc.). IOA increased across all four measures for the low demand group; however, frequency and duration demonstrated relatively low IOA across both groups. Additional research will be presented exploring how a brief training for observers impacts the reliability of observations of these four measures of chewing.

As new Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) enter the field of behavior analysis, it is crucial to determine where, how, and what populations BCBAs are serving. We conducted an online survey to determine the potential gaps in behavior support services. The online survey link was disseminated through behavior service organizations/associations. The 94 participants in the survey were primarily white females with an average age of 36.74 years, who had been working for an average of 4.32 years as a BCBA in non-rural settings. While most BCBAs worked primarily in the top most populated counties, they reported traveling to provide services (76.1%), with a minimum distance of 12.83 miles and maximum of 61.90 miles. On a scale from 1 (never) to 5 (always), participants reported mostly working with younger children with autism, intellectual disability, and developmental delay. The results of this descriptive study show that there are different areas, both in population and location, where BCBAs can expand in regards to service provision. Service provision gaps still remain in regards to older adults, disabilities beyond IDD, and rural areas.

Differential reinforcement for low rates of behavior (DRL) and token reinforcement were used as a behavior intervention protocol for an eleven-year-old female who engaged in speaking to imaginary people and animals. A brief functional assessment consisting of behavioral interviews and direct observation suggested non-functional vocalizations was maintained by automatic reinforcement. A changing criterion DRL procedure backed by a token economy was implemented and partial interval recording method was used to assess the percentage of intervals the individual engaged in vocalizations from baseline (83%) to termination of the intervention (-0%).

Patients with schizophrenia who cannot perform daily living behaviors independently become a burden to their family members and show poor integration into the community. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of self-reinforcement on daily activity and participation in a patient with schizophrenia. The target behaviors were bathing frequency related to daily activity and work time related to participation. A single subject experimental multiple baseline design where baseline with verbal prompts by occupational therapist, intervention with self-reinforcement using checklists of bathing and working was implemented. Self-reinforcement using checklists increased the bathing frequency (baseline: 1 time per week, intervention: 1-3 times per week; change in level = 3.0; binominal test, p = 0.006) and working time (baseline: 0-60 hours per week, intervention: 60-180 hours per week, change in level = 1.0; binominal test, p < 0.001). These results suggest that the self-reinforcement using checklists had an effect on bating frequency and working time in a patient with schizophrenia.

It is common that children with feeding disorders lack age-appropriate eating skills, as they may have missed opportunities to develop typical feeding skills, such as self-feeding. Intervention may be necessary to teach these skills regardless of whether refusal results from a motivational or skill deficit. When a target behavior is rare or absent, tasks can be shaped using forward or backward chaining by targeting a pre-existing step within an individuals behavioral repertoire. Research has shown that backward chaining can shape cup-drinking and using manual guidance to complete the chain familiarizes clients with the untrained steps and may increase mastery. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to extend the use of backward chaining to increase self-feeding of solids for a child with a feeding disorder when alternative methods failed to increase consistent self-feeding. Participation criteria and self-feeding steps were established, and backward chain procedures were initiated. Once the participant accurately completed the targeted step in the chain at least 80% of the time for 3 consecutive sessions, a baseline probe was conducted to establish experimental control, and then the subsequent step was introduced. This procedure was effective in teaching to self-feed independently when other methods failed.

In recent years, behavior analysts have conducted several comparative analyses that have examined the efficacy of two or more procedures designed to produce the same outcome, as well as participants preferences among the procedures. We aggregated these studies to ask questions about the relation between treatment efficacy and treatment preference. Twenty-one published studies met our criteria for inclusion in the analysis, yielding 92 distinct data sets for 83 participants. Roughly 74% of the sample showed clear differences in both efficacy and preference for the procedures. When we considered only those data sets that showed a clear difference in both preference and efficacy, the participants preferred the most effective intervention in over 75% of the analyses, with correspondence as high as 90% when data sets were further divided into categories of behavior. We discuss these results, several secondary analyses, and observed trends in preference in terms of possible reasons for this high degree of correspondence and potential implications for the selection of behavioral interventions.

The current study aims to identify Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) experiences with experimental functional analyses (EFAs). Additionally, data collected will evaluate the impact of a training protocol on BCBAs ability to generalize skills necessary to conduct a trial-based functional analysis. Specifically, BCBAs reporting no experience implementing an EFA will participate in a one-day training on implementation of a traditional EFA protocol. Data will be collected regarding the participants ability to conduct an EFA with a client. Participants will then conduct a trial-based EFA to determine whether or not acquired skills generalized to a different EFA technique (i.e., traditional EFA and trial-based EFA). Results of the current study indicate that of 33 practicing BCBAs surveyed only 39% had experience implementing an EFA and 21% received training in EFA methodology outside of graduate level coursework. Preliminary results indicate in-vivo training is necessary to implement an EFA with acceptable levels of integrity. Additional results will be discussed in terms of generalization of skills and the need for EFAs to be completed during practicum placements.