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Evaluation of an indirect assessment for identifying tasks for functional analysis
Holly C Wiggins1, Eileen M Roscoe1
1Western New England University and The New England Center for Children.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
|October 17, 2019
Summary
The Negative Reinforcement Rating Scale (NRRS) offers a time-efficient alternative to demand analysis for identifying problem behavior triggers in autism. While reliable for general categories, specific examples need further refinement for accurate assessment.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Functional analysis (FA) is crucial for understanding problem behavior but can be time-intensive.
- Demand analysis helps identify establishing operations for FA demand conditions.
- Time constraints often limit the practicality of conducting thorough demand analyses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the reliability and validity of the Negative Reinforcement Rating Scale (NRRS) as a time-efficient indirect assessment tool.
- To determine if NRRS can serve as a practical alternative to demand analysis for identifying demand conditions in functional analysis.
- To evaluate the NRRS's utility for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibiting problem behavior.
Main Methods:
- The study involved 5 individuals with ASD who exhibited problem behavior.
- Interrater reliability of the NRRS was assessed using two informants.
- NRRS outcomes were compared with subsequent demand analysis and FA to evaluate validity.
Main Results:
- High interrater reliability (M = 84%) was found for NRRS numerical ratings of categories.
- Low interrater reliability (M = 32.9%) was observed for specific examples provided within the NRRS.
- NRRS-identified highly aversive tasks showed better correspondence with demand analysis outcomes compared to less aversive tasks.
Conclusions:
- The NRRS demonstrates potential as a time-efficient indirect assessment for identifying demand conditions in FA for individuals with ASD.
- While NRRS numerical ratings are reliable, further refinement is needed for the specific examples to enhance validity.
- The scale appears more effective in identifying highly aversive tasks, suggesting targeted use may be beneficial.
