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Related Experiment Videos

Concurrent reinforcement schedules: behavior change and maintenance without extinction.

Hannah Hoch1, Jennifer J McComas, Andrea L Thompson

  • 1The Graduate Center, CUNY, USA. ch1hoch@aol.com

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|July 10, 2002
PubMed
Summary

Concurrent schedules of reinforcement reduced problem behavior in children with autism. Task completion and reinforcement led to improved behavior and task completion rates.

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral science
  • Autism spectrum disorder research
  • Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Background:

  • Problem behavior in children with autism often serves a function, such as escape from non-preferred tasks.
  • Understanding reinforcement schedules is crucial for developing effective interventions.
  • Concurrent schedules involve multiple reinforcement contingencies operating simultaneously.

Observation:

  • Three children with autism exhibited high levels of problem behavior and low task completion when breaks from tasks were contingent on problem behavior.
  • Task completion yielded no consequence or a similar break, failing to compete with the reinforcement for problem behavior.

Findings:

  • Problem behavior was eliminated, and task completion increased significantly when problem behavior produced a break and task completion produced a break with access to preferred activities.

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  • Treatment gains were maintained long-term without extinction procedures by increasing response requirements and thinning reinforcement schedules.

    • Implications:

    • This study highlights the importance of carefully designing reinforcement contingencies to effectively manage problem behavior in autism.
    • Tailoring reinforcement to include access to preferred activities alongside breaks can enhance treatment efficacy.
    • Gradually increasing task demands and thinning reinforcement schedules offers a sustainable approach to maintaining treatment gains.