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Related Concept Videos

Behavior Modification01:21

Behavior Modification

Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
Behaviorism01:28

Behaviorism

The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
Naturalistic Observations02:30

Naturalistic Observations

If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...

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Problem behavior during preference assessments: an empirical analysis and practical recommendations.

Soyeon Kang1, Russell B Lang, Mark F O'Reilly

  • 1University of Texas at Austin, Department of Special Education, College of Education, Austin, Texas 78712, USA. soyeon.caleb@gmail.com

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|September 3, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Problem behavior in children with developmental disabilities was assessed using three preference formats. The free operant (FO) format effectively reduced problem behavior compared to paired stimulus (PS) and multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO) formats.

Keywords:
autismdevelopmental disabilityecological validitypreference assessmentproblem behavior

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Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Science
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Applied Behavior Analysis

Background:

  • Problem behavior in children with developmental disabilities can be maintained by access to tangible items.
  • Functional analyses are crucial for identifying the maintaining variables of problem behavior.
  • Understanding preference assessments is key to designing effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the effectiveness of three preference assessment formats in identifying reinforcers for children with developmental disabilities.
  • To determine which assessment format minimizes problem behavior during preference assessments.
  • To provide practical recommendations for practitioners based on assessment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Two children with developmental disabilities participated.
  • Preference was assessed using paired stimulus (PS), multiple-stimulus without replacement (MSWO), and free operant (FO) formats.
  • A multielement design was used to compare problem behavior levels across formats.

Main Results:

  • Both participants exhibited problem behavior during the PS and MSWO formats.
  • Neither participant exhibited problem behavior during the FO format.
  • The FO format appeared to be the most effective in minimizing problem behavior.

Conclusions:

  • The free operant (FO) format may be a more suitable method for assessing preferences in children with developmental disabilities when problem behavior is a concern.
  • Practitioners should consider the potential for problem behavior when selecting a preference assessment format.
  • Further research is needed to validate these findings with a larger sample size.