Association for Behavior Analysis International

Practical Functional Assessment (PFA) and Skills Based Treatment (SBT) are currently widely used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The Constructional Approach has over 50 years of history in ABA. The two approaches to treatment share certain features implicitly. This symposium aims to make the implicit explicit. The first talk will start with brief historical context of both approaches, and a case example of their integration to produce effective treatment. The second talk will focus specifically on the PFA portion, and how parts of the constructional interview may be integrated to reveal more information that could be utilized within intervention. Further, it will highlight the implications of incorporating a nonlinear contingency analysis – as opposed to a linear one – and a cost/benefit analysis. The third talk will focus specifically on the SBT portion, and how more constructional components can be added to elucidate individualized, socially valid, and ecologically valid goals and interventions. Finally, the fourth talk will present experimental data on choice and assent with rats. It will show how alternative contingencies and the aversiveness of teaching environments may influence choice and assent—and will draw parallels to the Enhanced Choice Model.

BCBAs and RBTs with basic understanding of ABA.

The behavioral technology for eliminating severe problem behavior has evolved and developed over the past decade from the primary use of punishment and extinction based procedures, to traditional analog functional analyses with function based treatments, to the practical functional assessment (PFA) and skills based treatment (SBT). In both research and practice there are still many unanswered questions and needed developments when working with people who have co-occurring severe problem behaviors within their repertoires. For example, at times problem behavior persists throughout treatment despite clean initial analysis, or when behavior cannot be turned off, HRE cannot be established, or when rule governed behavior and emotions seem to be an interfering element, amongst other common clinical problems. This presentation will review complex case examples treating severe problem behavior and how adding a constructional approach to a treatment package and understanding non-linear contingencies can help answer complicated clinical problems in a novel way from current approaches. Goldiamond’s constructional approach and non-linear contingency analysis marry well with key values of current compassionate and asset-based approaches to treating severe problem behavior pioneered by the PFA/SBT community by seeing all behavior as reasonable and rational for all learners (vocal-verbal, verbal, etc.). Non-linear contingency analysis with an understanding that multiple alternative contingencies maintain behavior, as opposed to a singular contingency analysis, provides an additional way of thinking that may add value to current shifts in the field of behavior analysis and push forward ethical and compassionate treatment for those we serve.