Association for Behavior Analysis International

Function-based assessment and intervention for challenging behaviors are some of the most thoroughly researched and evidence-based procedures in applied behavior analysis. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement in assessment strategies for determining the causes of challenging behavior and intervention strategies for facilitating adaptive behavior change. This symposium presents recent research investigating variables that may influence the efficacy of assessment and intervention procedures related to challenging behavior. The first study utilized functional analyses of appropriate and challenging behavior to evaluate the effects of differential reinforcement and prompting on the degree of bias toward and severity of challenging behavior. The second study taught participants varied modalities of functional communication responses prior to implementing sequential extinction to determine communication modality preference and then testing for resurgence. The third study evaluated whether the occurrence of challenging behavior during a preference assessment may predict the degree of differentiated responding during the tangible condition of a functional analysis. Taken together, these studies elucidate variables that could increase the efficacy of assessment and intervention for challenging behavior and suggest important directions for future research in this area.

Researchers have recently adapted functional analysis methodology to record and reinforce appropriate behavior as well as challenging behavior (Deshais et al., 2024; Fahmie et al., 2020). Available data suggest such evaluations may allow for useful conclusions about sensitivity to different forms of reinforcement, bias toward appropriate versus challenging behavior, as well as the severity of challenging behavior and complexity of appropriate behavior. However, researchers have yet to evaluate how exposure to intervention may influence the results of such evaluation. In the current study, we evaluated how exposure to differential reinforcement and prompting for appropriate behavior influences sensitivity, bias, and severity for neurotypical preschoolers with no known diagnoses. Results to date suggest that the intervention may yield improvements in bias and severity in conditions including the targeted form of reinforcement but exert minimal effect on sensitivity. Implications for the potential utility of this methodology in evaluating reactive and preventive strategies will be discussed.

A mand modality preference assessment (Ringdahl et al., 2009) identifies a preferred communication modality (e.g., sign, vocal verbal) to use as a functional communication response (Carr & Durand, 1985). It has been demonstrated that identifying a preferred mand modality to replace challenging behavior can increase the effectiveness of the functional communication response (Winborn-Kemmer et al., 2009). Following teaching several modalities, implementing sequential extinction can create a hierarchy of mand modality preference (Hanley et al., 2003). Similar to Hanley et al. (2003) the present study used sequential extinction to determine a preference hierarchy. We extended Hanley et al. (2003) by conducting a resurgence test after sequential extinction to evaluate whether the participant allocated to challenging behavior or a functional communication response. The purpose of the current study was to assess the influence of sequential extinction on resurgence and preference for communication modalities. The participants were selected from a severe behavior clinic and between the ages of 3-18 years old. Data were collected on rates of challenging behavior, functional communication responses, and the modality of those responses. The data indicated resurgence did occur. Furthermore, the participant allocated towards lower preferred modalities when the higher preferred modalities were placed on extinction.