Updated Recommendations for Reinforcement Schedule Thinning following Functional Communication Training

Area of Science:

• Behavior Analysis
• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Functional communication training (FCT) is a key intervention for challenging behaviors.
• Schedule thinning is essential for maintaining communication gains post-FCT.
• Previous recommendations for schedule thinning were published in 2011.

Purpose of the Study:

• To update and extend the 2011 review on schedule thinning procedures following FCT.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations for schedule thinning based on contemporary literature.
• To identify future research directions in schedule thinning.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of literature published since 2011 on schedule thinning in FCT.
• Analysis of studies examining the efficacy, efficiency, and social validity of schedule thinning methods.
• Synthesis of findings to formulate updated recommendations.

Main Results:

• Substantial research has emerged since 2011, enhancing understanding of schedule thinning.
• Contemporary literature supports various effective and efficient schedule thinning strategies.
• The social validity of different schedule thinning approaches has been increasingly investigated.

Conclusions:

• Updated recommendations for schedule thinning procedures are provided.
• The review highlights the importance of tailoring schedule thinning to individual needs.
• Further research is needed to optimize schedule thinning for diverse populations and contexts.