The effect of reinforcer preference on functional analysis outcomes

Area of Science:

• Behavioral science
• Developmental psychology
• Applied behavior analysis

Background:

• Problem behavior in children with developmental delays is often multiply controlled.
• Identifying specific maintaining reinforcers is crucial for effective intervention.
• Previous assessments suggested both social (attention) and tangible reinforcement maintained behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify reinforcer preference in multiply controlled problem behavior.
• To inform treatment selection based on identified preferences.
• To evaluate the utility of concurrent-schedule assessments in complex cases.

Main Methods:

• Functional analyses were conducted to identify variables maintaining problem behavior.
• Concurrent-schedule assessments were used to assess preference between reinforcers.
• Participants were children with developmental delays exhibiting problem behavior during social play.

Main Results:

• Initial functional analyses indicated multiple control of problem behavior.
• Concurrent-schedule assessments successfully identified preference between attention and tangible reinforcers.
• Treatment was tailored based on the identified reinforcer preferences.

Conclusions:

• Concurrent-schedule assessments are valuable for identifying reinforcer preference in multiply controlled problem behavior.
• Understanding reinforcer hierarchies is essential for designing effective behavioral interventions.
• This approach aids in addressing complex behavioral challenges in developmental disabilities.