RESUMEN
Although experimental effects typically are evaluated by summarizing levels of responding across time (e.g., calculating the mean levels of problem behavior during 10-min sessions), these data summaries may obscure important mechanisms that may be responsible for changes in responding. A case study is reported to illustrate alternative methods of data analysis when decreasing trends in responding may be due to increases in response efficiency.
Asunto(s)
Terapia Conductista/métodos , Discapacidad Intelectual/rehabilitación , Refuerzo en Psicología , Trastorno de la Conducta Social/diagnóstico , Trastorno de la Conducta Social/terapia , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Discapacidad Intelectual/psicología , Esquema de RefuerzoRESUMEN
Recent research findings suggest that idiosyncratic variables can influence the outcomes of functional analyses (E. G. Carr, Yarbrough, & Langdon, 1997). In the present study, we examined idiosyncratic environment-behavior relations more precisely after identifying stimuli (i.e., a particular toy and social interaction) associated with increased levels of problem behavior. Two children, an 8-year-old boy with moderate mental retardation and a 5-year-old boy with no developmental delays, participated. Results of functional analyses for both children indicated that idiosyncratic antecedent stimuli set the occasion for occurrences of problem behavior (hand biting or hand flapping) and that problem behavior persisted in the absence of social contingencies. Further analyses were conducted to identify specific components of the stimuli that occasioned problem behavior. Treatments based on results of the analyses successfully reduced self-injury and hand flapping.
Asunto(s)
Conducta Autodestructiva/prevención & control , Atención/fisiología , Terapia Conductista , Preescolar , Discapacidades del Desarrollo/complicaciones , Humanos , Masculino , Juego e Implementos de Juego , Refuerzo en Psicología , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Conducta Autodestructiva/complicacionesRESUMEN
Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) consists of delivering a reinforcer on a time-based schedule, independent of responding. Studies evaluating the effectiveness of NCR as treatment for problem behavior have used fixed-time (FT) schedules of reinforcement. In this study, the efficacy of NCR with variable-time (VT) schedules was evaluated by comparing the effects of VT and FT reinforcement schedules with 2 individuals who engaged in problem behavior maintained by positive reinforcement. Both FT and VT schedules were effective in reducing problem behavior. These findings suggest that VT schedules can be used to treat problem behavior maintained by social consequences.
Asunto(s)
Esquema de Refuerzo , Refuerzo en Psicología , Trastorno de la Conducta Social/terapia , Adolescente , Adulto , Agresión/psicología , Extinción Psicológica , Femenino , Humanos , Discapacidad Intelectual/psicología , MasculinoRESUMEN
Extinction of operant behavior has been associated with a number of undesirable effects. One such effect is the temporary reappearance of behavior after responding appears to be completely extinguished, known as spontaneous recovery. In this report, the occurrence of spontaneous recovery and its attenuation with large amounts of reinforcement were examined during the treatment of disruption.
Asunto(s)
Convalecencia , Trastornos Mentales/terapia , Refuerzo en Psicología , Adulto , Extinción Psicológica , Femenino , Humanos , Discapacidad Intelectual/psicología , Trastornos Mentales/etiología , Remisión Espontánea , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
Functional analysis procedures have been demonstrated to be effective for identifying the operant mechanisms underlying problem behavior. However, functional analyses sometimes yield results that are undifferentiated (i.e., show similar levels of responding across test conditions). Within-session (i.e., minute-by-minute) analyses of response patterns during undifferentiated functional analyses have proven useful in clarifying behavioral function. This study extends previous research by examining within-session changes in responding associated with variations in relevant establishing operations. Levels of problem behavior during the presentation and removal of reinforcement were compared when responding occurred in test conditions associated with sources of social reinforcement (i.e., access to attention, materials, escape). Results showed that changes in responding associated with changes in relevant establishing operations could be examined to clarify behavioral function.
Asunto(s)
Conducta Autodestructiva/diagnóstico , Niño , Preescolar , Femenino , Humanos , Refuerzo en Psicología , Conducta Autodestructiva/psicologíaRESUMEN
We compared the effects of extinction (EXT) and fixed-time (FT) schedules as treatment for severe problem behavior displayed by 3 individuals with developmental disabilities. First, functional analyses identified the reinforcers maintaining aberrant behavior for all 3 individuals. Next, EXT and FT schedules were compared using a multielement design. During EXT, the reinforcer maintaining problem behavior was withheld. During FT, the reinforcers were presented response independently at preset intervals. Results showed that FT schedules were generally more effective than EXT schedules in reducing aberrant behavior. FT schedules may be used in situations when extinction-induced phenomena are problematic.