Concurrent schedules of differential reinforcement of alternative behavior in the treatment of problem behavior without extinctions

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2021

First Committee Member

Bourret, Jason

Second Committee Member

Thompson, Rachel

Third Committee Member

Roscoe, Eileen

Abstract

"Individuals with autism may engage in severe problem behavior such as aggression or self-injurious behavior (SIB) that can become unsafe to themselves and others (Lerman, Iwata & Wallace, 1999). Functional analysis methodology has been demonstrated to be effective in identifying environmental variables that evoke and maintain problem behavior (Beavers & Iwata, 2013). Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) procedures are typically implemented after a response class of problem behavior has been identified to establish an appropriate alternative response to access the maintaining reinforcer (Vollmer & Iwata, 1992). Most DRA procedures involve delivering the maintaining reinforcer contingent on a communicative response (i.e., mand) and placing problem behavior on extinction (Tiger, Hanley, & Bruzek, 2008). Once the mand occurs independently in the absence of problem behavior, the reinforcement schedule may be thinned to decrease consumption of the maintaining reinforcer. One commonly used thinning method, using a chained schedule, involves increasing the number of responses required for reinforcement (Hagopian, Boelter, & Jarmolowicz, 2011, pg. 6)."

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