TY - JOUR
T1 - Efficiency and preference for alternative activities during schedule thinning with functional communication training
AU - Simmons, Christina A.
AU - Salvatore, Giovanna L.
AU - Zangrillo, Amanda N.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was partially supported by Seed Funding from Rowan University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB).
PY - 2022/2/1
Y1 - 2022/2/1
N2 - Functional communication training is an effective treatment for decreasing socially reinforced destructive behavior (Carr & Durand, 1985). Clinicians frequently use multiple schedules to thin the reinforcement schedule (Hanley et al., 2001). Individuals are often taught to wait for functional reinforcers without alternative programmed stimuli. However, concurrently available items and activities are often accessible in the natural environment. In this study, we taught 4 participants a functional communication response to access functional reinforcers. We implemented a multiple schedule during schedule thinning, comparing a control condition (nothing available during SΔ intervals) to separate conditions with items/activities (moderately preferred tangible items, attention, demands) noncontingently available during SΔ intervals. After reaching the terminal schedule in one condition, therapists assessed participant preference across SΔ conditions. For all participants, the terminal schedule was reached with alternative items and activities, and participant preference corresponded with the most efficient schedule thinning condition. Therapists also indicated preference for alternative items/activities.
AB - Functional communication training is an effective treatment for decreasing socially reinforced destructive behavior (Carr & Durand, 1985). Clinicians frequently use multiple schedules to thin the reinforcement schedule (Hanley et al., 2001). Individuals are often taught to wait for functional reinforcers without alternative programmed stimuli. However, concurrently available items and activities are often accessible in the natural environment. In this study, we taught 4 participants a functional communication response to access functional reinforcers. We implemented a multiple schedule during schedule thinning, comparing a control condition (nothing available during SΔ intervals) to separate conditions with items/activities (moderately preferred tangible items, attention, demands) noncontingently available during SΔ intervals. After reaching the terminal schedule in one condition, therapists assessed participant preference across SΔ conditions. For all participants, the terminal schedule was reached with alternative items and activities, and participant preference corresponded with the most efficient schedule thinning condition. Therapists also indicated preference for alternative items/activities.
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U2 - 10.1002/jaba.886
DO - 10.1002/jaba.886
M3 - Article
C2 - 34694003
AN - SCOPUS:85117774113
SN - 0021-8855
VL - 55
SP - 101
EP - 120
JO - Journal of applied behavior analysis
JF - Journal of applied behavior analysis
IS - 1
ER -