Withdrawal versus reversal: a necessary distinction?
In the behavior analysis literature, the terms withdrawal and reversal are widely used to refer to various iterations of the basic A‐B‐A or A‐B‐A‐B experimental design structure. Although these terms were initially used to label two distinct but closely related experimental designs, it now appears that many researchers have come to use these terms interchangeably. A review of major behavior analytic journals published between 2009 and 2013 reveals a strong preference among researchers for use of the term reversal in labeling the design described in the publication, whether or not that design is characterized by t...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - July 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Byron Wine, Thomas R. Freeman, Allison King Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Using calibration and interobserver agreement algorithms to assess the accuracy and precision of data from electronic and pen‐and‐paper continuous recording methods
Often it is assumed that electronic recording by observers necessarily provides better quality data than pen‐and‐paper methods. Fifteen novice observers recorded rates of responding from 10 role‐played video samples using one of three continuous recording input formats: keyboard (laptop), touchscreen (personal digital assistants), or pen‐and‐paper. We evaluated the quality of the observers' data compared with criterion records using calibration and interobserver agreement algorithms. Results of the calibration analysis revealed that observers in the touchscreen group produced the most consistently accurate and pr...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - July 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Katrina J. Phillips, Oliver C. Mudford, Jason R. Zeleny, Douglas Elliffe Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
The influence of antecedents and consequences on the occurrence of bizarre speech in individuals with dementia
We conducted a series of assessments to determine the differential effects of common antecedents and consequences that can influence the occurrence of bizarre speech in three women with moderate to severe dementia. First, a traditional functional analysis was conducted to assess the function of bizarre speech. After results revealed differentially higher levels of bizarre speech during control sessions, an antecedent analysis was conducted. During this second assessment, all consequences were held constant, and only the antecedents (i.e., open‐ended questions, yes/no questions, and comments) were altered. Bizarre speech ...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - July 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Maranda A. Trahan, Jeanne M. Donaldson, Matthew K. McNabney, SungWoo Kahng Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Teaching with massed versus interspersed trials: effects on acquisition, maintenance, and problem behavior
The current study evaluated the effects of teaching three programs using massed‐trial teaching (MTT) versus interspersed‐trial teaching (ITT) for three participants diagnosed with autism. Specifically, we compared the (i) rate of response acquisition, (ii) percentage of trials per session with problem behavior, and (iii) number of acquisition targets maintained following mastery. For all three participants, the rate of acquisition was higher under MTT than ITT, and levels of problem behavior were similar in both conditions for each participant. Perhaps the only advantage of ITT over MTT was maintenance of targets at th...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - July 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Marissa L. Henrickson, John T. Rapp, Hazel A. Ashbeck Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Evaluation of errorless compliance training in a general education classroom
Errorless compliance training (ECT) is a success‐based, nonaversive intervention to reduce child noncompliance that has been shown to be effective in both home and special education settings. In the current study, ECT was evaluated in a multiple‐baseline across‐subjects design with three kindergarten students who displayed noncompliant behavior in their general education classrooms. The researcher delivered a range of classroom requests to each student to determine the probability of compliance for each request. Requests were then arranged in a hierarchy, ranging from those initially yielding high compliance probabil...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - April 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jessica Rames‐LaPointe, Michael D. Hixson, Larissa N. Niec, Katrina N. Rhymer Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Discrimination learning in adults with neurocognitive disorders
Alzheimer's disease is the most commonly known neurocognitive disorder characterized by deterioration in areas such as memory, attention, and activities of daily living. From a behavioral perspective, memory and attentional deficits may be described as deterioration of stimulus control. This paper provides a case study of discrimination behavior in a patient with neurocognitive disorder. The purpose of the current study was twofold: (i) to study the effect of using presumed familiar pictures in arbitrary matching‐to‐sample tasks and (ii) to study variables that affect stimulus control in a patient diagnosed with vascul...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - April 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Hanna Steinunn Steingrimsdottir, Erik Arntzen Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
The use of a verbal reprimand to decrease rumination in a child with autism
After a pre‐treatment screening analysis suggested that rumination exhibited by a boy with autism occurred in the absence of social consequences, we evaluated the effect of a verbal reprimand contingent on the target behavior via a reversal design. The reprimand reduced rumination to near‐zero levels; we then thinned the reprimand schedule and rumination remained infrequent. Follow‐up data collected 6, 12, and 18 months after initial treatment suggested that intervention effects were maintained. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Behavioral Interventions)
Source: Behavioral Interventions - April 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Alex Dominguez, David A. Wilder, Kim Cheung, Catalina Rey Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Licensure for behavior analysts: the path to responsible and cooperative action
The increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in the last decade has contributed to growth in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). This growth has been spurred by consumer demand for access to this evidence‐based treatment for those with an autism spectrum disorder. Presently, there are at least 34 states that have laws or regulations in place that mandate insurance coverage for autism spectrum disorders. There are also 14 states that have passed licensure or a similar regulatory mechanism for identifying competent providers of ABA. The following paper documents the process of insuring consumer adv...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - April 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: John M. Guercio, William J. Murray Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
An evaluation of self‐monitoring to improve swimming performance
This study evaluated the effects of self‐monitoring by swimmers to improve their performance and assessed the effects of reactivity to observer presence on their performance. Seven public high school swim team members self‐monitored their behavior on dry erase boards to increase the number of assigned laps completed at practice. Reactivity to observer presence was assessed as a confederate, recorded the number of laps completed during observer absent conditions. The percentage of assigned laps completed increased during the self‐monitoring phases. The self‐monitoring and feedback phase further increased the percent...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - April 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Sara W. Schonwetter, Raymond Miltenberger, Jeffrey R. Oliver Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Adherence to discrete‐trial instruction procedures by rural parents of children with autism
Parents of children with autism spectrum disorders may not attempt treatment, even when effective treatment options are available. Little is known about how to improve frequency of attempts to implement treatment (‘treatment adherence’). We provided 32 rural parents of young children with autism spectrum disorders with either written or video training materials about how to implement discrete‐trial instruction and compared parental adherence between the written (control) and video (experimental) groups. Parents who received video instructions adhered to the training procedures to a significantly greater extent than d...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - April 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Claire C. St. Peter, Lashanna Y. Brunson, James E. Cook, Shrinidhi Subramaniam, Nicholas A. Larson, Mark Clingan, Susannah G. Poe Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Rearranging naturally occurring contingencies to increase desirable behavior in a toddler classroom
Toddlers often display problem behavior during transitions. We rearranged naturally occurring events in a toddler classroom to promote more desirable classroom behavior during transitions to meals. In the intervention condition, teachers transitioned each child to meals only when that child was seated on a play mat (a requisite for engagement in teacher‐led play activities). In the reversal condition, teachers selected each child to transition when that child was by the barrier to the meal area (a practice commonly observed under natural conditions). The intervention increased the mean percentage of intervals when childr...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - April 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Nicole M. Rodriguez, Rachel H. Thompson, Jessica L. Haremza Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
A discrimination training procedure to establish conditioned reinforcers for children with autism
Although conditioned reinforcers are used in many behavioral intervention programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, little research has been conducted to determine optimal methods for establishing conditioned reinforcers. An early method that has received relatively little research attention is to condition a neutral stimulus as a discriminative stimulus and then use the stimulus as a programed consequence during skill acquisition. The current study evaluated the effects of a discrimination training procedure on establishing conditioned reinforcers for three children with autism. For all participants, previ...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - March 12, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Catherine Taylor‐Santa, Tina M. Sidener, James E. Carr, Kenneth F. Reeve Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Applied behavior analysis in acquired brain injury rehabilitation: a meta‐analysis of single‐case design intervention research
The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to complete a systematic evidence‐based review of published behavioral treatment studies employing single‐case designs with both children and adults with acquired brain injury. Peer‐reviewed journals were searched using PsycINFO, Medline, and ERIC databases with combinations of terms such as brain injury, behavior disorder, behavior therapy, behavior modification, behavior analysis, and verbal behavior. A total of 112 acquisition and reduction studies met the established inclusion criteria. The data extracted from each study included specific details about the participants, tar...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - February 24, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Megan R. Heinicke, James E. Carr Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Effects of an independent group contingency special activity program on inappropriate behavior in a residential setting
Group contingencies targeting inappropriate behavior may be especially useful in residential settings where the staff to client ratio makes individualized behavior plan implementation difficult. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate an independent group contingency on inappropriate behavior in a secure residential facility for offenders with disabilities. The independent group contingency involved differential reinforcement of low rate and differential reinforcement of other behavior via access to a special activity (a catered weekly lunch). The group contingency was alternated with non‐activity weeks for a to...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - February 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Kimberly N. Sloman, Jorge R. Reyes, Timothy R. Vollmer Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
Improving intervention integrity of direct‐service practitioners through performance feedback and problem solving consultation
The purpose of this study was to improve intervention integrity of behavior support plan implementation by teachers at a specialized school. During the first phase of a multiple baseline design, performance feedback was given to the teachers during (correction) and immediately following (praise) classroom observations. In a second phase, the teachers received problem solving consultation that addressed behavior support plan misapplication and respective procedural modifications. Only one of the three teachers demonstrated improved intervention integrity with performance feedback, whereas problem solving consultation produc...
Source: Behavioral Interventions - February 1, 2014 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Lisa Minor, Melanie DuBard, James K. Luiselli Tags: Research Article Source Type: research
