Descriptive and experimental analyses of variables maintaining self-injurious behavior

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Applied Behavior Analysis

Background:

• Self-injurious behavior (SIB) presents significant challenges in assessment and treatment.
• Understanding the maintaining variables of SIB is crucial for effective intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the utility of descriptive (correlational) and functional (experimental) analyses in identifying variables that maintain self-injurious behavior (SIB).
• To determine the extent to which these two analytical methods yield similar conclusions regarding SIB.
• To assess the limitations of descriptive analysis in differentiating reinforcement types.

Main Methods:

• Independent descriptive and functional analyses were conducted on 6 subjects exhibiting SIB.
• Descriptive analyses involved direct observation of subject and staff behaviors in natural settings.
• Functional analyses employed multielement designs to systematically manipulate potential maintaining variables.

Main Results:

• Both descriptive and functional analyses utilized conditional probabilities to identify antecedent and consequent events related to SIB.
• Descriptive analysis effectively distinguished between social and nonsocial contingencies maintaining SIB.
• Descriptive analysis showed limitations in differentiating between positive reinforcement (e.g., attention) and negative reinforcement (e.g., escape).

Conclusions:

• Descriptive analysis is a valuable tool for initial identification of broad maintaining variables for SIB.
• Functional analysis is superior for precisely differentiating between types of reinforcement (positive vs. negative) that maintain SIB.
• Combining both methods may offer a comprehensive approach to understanding and treating SIB.