Systematic Changes in Preference for Schedule-Thinning Arrangements as a Function of Relative Reinforcement Density

Area of Science:

• Behavior Analysis
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
• Applied Behavior Analysis

Background:

• Destructive behavior in autism spectrum disorder is often maintained by social reinforcement.
• Functional communication training (FCT) is a primary intervention for such behaviors.
• Understanding reinforcement schedules is crucial for treatment efficacy.

Observation:

• The study applied FCT to address destructive behavior maintained by social-positive (tangibles) and social-negative (escape) reinforcement.
• Schedule thinning was implemented using multiple (mult FCT) and chained (chain FCT) schedules.
• Client preference between mult FCT and chain FCT was assessed using a concurrent-chains procedure.

Findings:

• Both mult FCT and chain FCT effectively reduced destructive behavior to near-zero levels while maintaining functional communication.
• Treatment effects were robust, even with rapid thinning of the mult FCT schedule.
• Client preference shifted towards mult FCT as response requirements increased and reinforcement favored this schedule.

Implications:

• These findings highlight the adaptability and effectiveness of FCT with schedule thinning for managing challenging behaviors in autism.
• The study provides valuable insights into client preference for different reinforcement arrangements, informing clinical decision-making.
• Results suggest that optimizing reinforcement schedules can enhance treatment outcomes and client engagement in behavioral interventions.