Search Constraints
Search Results
- Creator:
- Harper, Jill M., Fahmie, Tara A., Virues-Ortega, Javier, and Iwata, Brian A.
- Description:
- Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) may decrease the frequency of behavior by either inducing satiation or terminating the response–reinforcer contingency (extinction). Another possibility is that the target behavior is replaced by other behaviors maintained by preexisting contingencies. We conducted 2 experiments in which we allowed access to a target response and several alternatives. In Experiment 1, NCR, preceded by contingent reinforcement (CR) for the target, produced a reduction in the target and an increase in the alternatives in 2 subjects with intellectual disabilities. To separate the effects of NCR from the availability of alternative responses, we presented CR conditions to 4 subjects in Experiment 2 with and without the availability of alternatives. The availability of alternatives decreased the target in only 1 subject. Subsequent manipulations showed that reductions in the target were solely a function of NCR for the other 3 subjects. Thus, response competition may have marginal effects on response suppression during NCR.
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Identifier:
- 0021-8855
- Campus Tesim:
- Northridge
- Creator:
- Harper, Jill M., Fahmie, Tara A., Querim, Angie C., and Iwata, Brian A.
- Description:
- Abstract Most functional analyses of problem behavior include a common condition (play or noncontingent reinforcement) as a control for both positive and negative reinforcement. However, test?specific conditions that control for each potential source of reinforcement may be beneficial occasionally. We compared responding during alone, ignore, play, and differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) control conditions for individuals whose problem behavior was maintained by positive or negative reinforcement. Results showed that all of the conditions were effective controls for problem behavior maintained by positive reinforcement; however, the DRO condition was consistently ineffective as a control for problem behavior maintained by negative reinforcement. Implications for the design of functional analyses and future research are discussed.
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Identifier:
- 0021-8855
- Campus Tesim:
- Northridge
- Creator:
- Harper, Jill M., Fahmie, Tara A., Querim, Angie C., and Iwata, Brian A.
- Description:
- A common condition included in most functional analyses (FAs) is the attention condition, in which the therapist ignores the client by engaging in a solitary activity (antecedent event) but delivers attention to the client contingent on problem behavior (consequent event). The divided attention condition is similar, except that the antecedent event consists of the therapist conversing with an adult confederate. We compared the typical and divided attention conditions to determine whether behavior in general (Study 1) and problem behavior in particular (Study 2) were more sensitive to one of the test conditions. Results showed that the divided attention condition resulted in faster acquisition or more efficient FA results for 2 of 9 subjects, suggesting that the divided attention condition could be considered a preferred condition when resources are available.
- Resource Type:
- Article
- Identifier:
- 0021-8855
- Campus Tesim:
- Northridge