Prevention of the development of problem behavior: A laboratory model

Area of Science:

• Behavioral psychology
• Experimental analysis of behavior

Background:

• Few studies isolate the preventive efficacy of common behavioral strategies.
• Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) are widely used but their preventative effects need further isolation.
• A laboratory model can help elucidate the specific preventive functions of these strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a laboratory model for assessing the preventive efficacy of NCR and DRA.
• To compare the effectiveness of NCR and DRA in preventing an analog of problem behavior within a controlled setting.

Main Methods:

• A computer simulation was used where participant clicks mimicked problem behavior.
• Undergraduate students were assigned to a control group (percentile schedule) or experimental groups receiving DRA or NCR.
• Between-subjects comparisons were conducted to evaluate the prevention of simulated problem behavior.

Main Results:

• Both DRA and NCR were equally effective in preventing the analog of problem behavior.
• Both intervention strategies demonstrated greater efficacy than the control condition.
• The laboratory model successfully simulated the effects of these behavioral prevention strategies.

Conclusions:

• The laboratory model provides a viable method for isolating the preventive effects of behavioral interventions.
• NCR and DRA show comparable efficacy in preventing problem behavior analogs.
• Further research should explore the strengths and limitations of this model in relation to applied settings.