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An evaluation of contingency strength and response suppression
John C Borrero1, Timothy R Vollmer, Carrie S Wright
1University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, USA.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|January 31, 2003
Summary
This study examined how contingency strength affects severe problem behavior in individuals with developmental disabilities. A neutral contingency, where aggression and non-aggression had equal reinforcement probability, significantly suppressed aggression rates in both participants.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Developmental disabilities research
- Applied behavior analysis
Background:
- Functional analyses of severe problem behavior often involve immediate reinforcement of the target response or schedules mimicking natural occurrences.
- Understanding effective intervention strategies for problem behavior in developmental disabilities is crucial.
Observation:
- This study investigated the impact of varying contingency strengths on severe problem behavior.
- Two participants diagnosed with developmental disabilities were assessed.
Findings:
- A neutral contingency, where the probability of reinforcement for aggression equaled that for non-aggression, effectively suppressed aggression rates.
- This finding suggests that the precise schedule of reinforcement, not just its presence, is key to behavior reduction.
Implications:
- Results indicate that carefully manipulating contingency strength can be a viable strategy for reducing problem behavior.
- Further research into optimal contingency designs for individuals with developmental disabilities is warranted.