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| Identifying Effective Treatment Components for Reducing Problem Behaviors Maintained by Automatic Reinforcement |
| Saturday, May 29, 2004 |
| 2:30 PM–3:50 PM |
| Constitution B |
| Area: DDA; Domain: Applied Research |
| Chair: Wendy K. Berg (University of Iowa) |
| Discussant: Louis P. Hagopian (Kennedy Krieger Institute) |
| Abstract: . |
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| Assessment of Antecedent Exercise for Treatment of Problem Behavior Maintained By Automatic Reinforcement |
| HEATHER MORRISON (New England Center for Children), Eileen M. Roscoe (New England Center for Children), Jamie L. Granatino (New England Center for Children), Jacqueline Camarco (New England Center for Children) |
| Abstract: Antecedent exercise has been effective for decreasing a range of problem behaviors. However, because functional analyses (FA), preference assessments (PAs), and control conditions were not conducted, it is unclear if the effects were due to exercise or other variables (e.g., continuous access to leisure items). We included these assessments prior to evaluating exercise with two individuals who exhibited problem behavior. FAs indicated that their problem behavior was maintained by automatic reinforcement. PAs indicated the most effective exercise and leisure items to include during the noncontingent exercise and noncontingent leisure conditions. During the antecedent exercise assessment, reversal and multielement designs were used. A reversal was conducted each day (alone, test condition, alone), and test sessions (exercise, leisure, social) varied across days. Leisure and social test conditions served as control conditions. Results indicated that problem behavior occurred at low levels during exercise and leisure tests but persisted during the subsequent alone condition. These findings suggest that noncontingent exercise may effectively suppress problem behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement during but not following treatment, and that noncontingent access to leisure items may be as effective as noncontingent exercise. IOA was collected during at least 33.3% of session; IOA score was 95%. |
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| Identifying Relevant Stimulus Dimensions of an Enriched Environment to Effectively Compete with Automatically Maintained Behavior |
| WENDY K. BERG (University of Iowa), Joel Eric Ringdahl (University of Iowa), David P. Wacker (University of Iowa), Danielle N. Dolezal (University of Iowa), Lisa C. Winborn-Kemmerer (University of Iowa) |
| Abstract: The noncontingent (NCR) provision of preferred materials has been effective in reducing problem behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement for some individuals. However, preference for tangible stimuli may not be the only variable to consider in developing NCR treatments. In the current study, multielement designs were used to identify the type of stimuli to incorporate within NCR treatments for three individuals who engaged in problem behavior that was maintained by automatic reinforcement. The stimulus dimensions manipulated within the multi-element designs included preference for tangible items, presence of attention, and degree of structure of the activity. The effects of these stimulus manipulations varied across participants, with one participant responding to the combination of preferred activity and attention, and the remaining two participants responding to increased structure. An enriched environment incorporating the identified stimuli was developed for each participant and reduced problem behavior to zero or near zero levels. These results indicate that the type of stimuli presented within an NCR treatment needs to be defined on a case-by-case basis. Interobserver agreement data were collected for at least 25% of all sessions across all conditions and ranged between 80% and 100% agreement. |
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| Assessment and Treatment of Multiple Topographies of Problem Behavior Maintained by Automatic Reinforcement |
| JOEL ERIC RINGDAHL (University of Iowa), Wendy K. Berg (University of Iowa), David P. Wacker (University of Iowa), Danielle N. Dolezal (University of Iowa), Lisa C. Winborn-Kemmerer (University of Iowa) |
| Abstract: We conducted a series of assessments to identify treatment strategies for individuals who engaged in multiple topographies of stereotypic and/or self-injurious behavior. A functional analysis indicated that, for each participant, each topography of problem behavior was maintained by automatic reinforcement. Subsequent analyses, including a concurrent-operant assessment and a competing stimulus assessment, provided bases for treatment decisions. For the first individual, the analyses resulted in an identical treatment approach for both topographies of problem behavior (hand wringing and hand mouthing). The treatment resulted in reductions in one topography of behavior but no effect on the second topography. For the second individual, the analyses resulted in separate treatment recommendations for each topography of problem behavior (hand mouthing and stereotypic rocking), with both treatments resulting in substantial reductions in behavior. The results are discussed in the context of the need to develop treatment strategies specific to the topography to be treated, even when the behaviors can be considered members of the same response class (e.g., automatic reinforcement). Agreement data were obtained for over 20% of assessment and treatment sessions and averaged over 80%. |
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