TY - JOUR
T1 - A brief method for conducting a negative-reinforcement assessment
AU - Zarcone, Jennifer R.
AU - Crosland, Kimberly
AU - Fisher, Wayne W.
AU - Worsdell, April S.
AU - Herman, Kelly
N1 - Funding Information:
This investigation was supported in part by Grant MCJ249149-02 from the Maternal and Child Health Service of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The authors thank the children and their families for participating in the study.
PY - 1999/3
Y1 - 1999/3
N2 - A brief negative-reinforcement assessment was conducted with developmentally disabled children with severe destructive behavior. Five children were trained to engage in a simple escape response (e.g., a hand clap). Then each child was presented with a variety of stimuli or tasks that ranged on a scale from preferred to nonpreferred, based on parent ranking. The participant received a brief break from the stimuli or task, contingent on each escape response. For one child, an avoidance contingency was also implemented in which he could engage in the response to avoid the presentation of stimuli. Results showed that for each child, several stimuli were identified that may serve as effective negative reinforcers. Results also indicated that the procedure did not elicit any negative side effects for four children and low rates of destructive behavior for the fifth child. For one child, the results of the negative-reinforcement assessment were used to develop an effective treatment for destructive behavior. Additional applications of the reinforcement assessment to treatment interventions is discussed, as well as limitations to the procedure.
AB - A brief negative-reinforcement assessment was conducted with developmentally disabled children with severe destructive behavior. Five children were trained to engage in a simple escape response (e.g., a hand clap). Then each child was presented with a variety of stimuli or tasks that ranged on a scale from preferred to nonpreferred, based on parent ranking. The participant received a brief break from the stimuli or task, contingent on each escape response. For one child, an avoidance contingency was also implemented in which he could engage in the response to avoid the presentation of stimuli. Results showed that for each child, several stimuli were identified that may serve as effective negative reinforcers. Results also indicated that the procedure did not elicit any negative side effects for four children and low rates of destructive behavior for the fifth child. For one child, the results of the negative-reinforcement assessment were used to develop an effective treatment for destructive behavior. Additional applications of the reinforcement assessment to treatment interventions is discussed, as well as limitations to the procedure.
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U2 - 10.1016/S0891-4222(98)00036-5
DO - 10.1016/S0891-4222(98)00036-5
M3 - Article
C2 - 10198942
AN - SCOPUS:0033067036
VL - 20
SP - 107
EP - 124
JO - Research in Developmental Disabilities
JF - Research in Developmental Disabilities
SN - 0891-4222
IS - 2
ER -