Unit 8 Flashcards
Functional Behavior Assessment
- Gathering information to generate hypotheses about the relations among specific types of environmental events & behaviors
- Indirect
- Descriptive
- Functional analysis
Functional Analysis
*Compare rates of bx in control condition (play) to test conditions
- Common test conditions:
- Demand
- Attention
- Alone
- Tangibles
In a functional analysis, a behavior analyst compares the rates of responding in which conditions?
“Test and Control Conditions”
Assessment-Intervention Link
*Identification of the function can directly guide treatment & “maybe more effective than those selected without consideration of behavioral function”
The function of a problem behavior cannot be assumed based on topography.
a. True
b. False
a. True
Explain a benefit of identifying the function of problem behavior:
“Identifying the function of Problem Bx can directly guide treatment”
Function-Based Treatment
- What makes a treatment function based?
* How do function-based treatments operate on bx?
Function-Based Treatment (Con…t)
- A function-based treatment directly addresses the identified function of the bx
- Alters some aspect of the 4-term contingency
- Does not rely on superimposing other contingencies on the existing maintaining contingencies
How Function-Based Treatments Work
- Eliminating the reinforcement contingency
- Extinction
- Altering the MO
- Noncontingent Rx (NCR)
- Establishing a new bx with the Rx contingency
- Functional communication training (FCT)
“Function-based” treatment focuses on the identified function as the basis for treatment, but also requires adjusting interventions based on the individual.
a. True
b. False
a. True
Function-Based Interventions
- Interventions for Bx maintained by:
- Social positive reinforcement
- Social negative reinforcement
- Automatic reinforcement
- Strengths & weaknesses
- Decision models
Common Treatment Elements
- Arranging the delivery of relevant reinforcers through other means
- E.g. differential Rx, noncontingent Rx
- Disrupting the response-reinforcer contingency for prob bx
- E.g Extinction
Common Treatments
- Common treatments for social positive Rx:
1. Extinction (EXT)
2. Differential positive Rx
3. Noncontingent Rx (NCR)
Describe two common elements used in function-based treatment:
“Disrupt response-reinforcer contingencies for problem behavior and arrange for reinforcers through other means”
Extinction as a Process
- A decrease in the probability of a response class following the discontinuation of the response-reinforcer contingency
- Requires
- Knowledge of Function of bx
- Ability to withhold the reinforcer
Extinction as a Procedure
- Procedural variation of EXT matters (Iwata, Pace, Cowdery & Miltenberger 1994)
- EXT of problem Bx maintained by positive RX:
- Withholding the reinforcer (attention or tangible stimuli) following the occurrence of prob bx
Withholding attention is the most effective way to apply extinction for problem behavior maintained by social positive reinforcement.
Extinction of prob bx maintained by social positive reinforcement involves withholding the stimulus that has reinforced that behavior in the past. The stimulus withheld can be attention from others if the behavior is maintained by access to attention, or a tangible item if the behavior is maintained by access to a tangible.
How does extinction for behavior maintained by tangible items differ from extinction for behavior maintained by attention?
Extinction for behavior maintained by tangible items involves withholding the items, while extinction for behavior maintained by attention involves withholding attention
Differential Reinforcement
- Reinforcing 1 response while withholding reinforcers for another
- May not always include EXT component
- Varying forms:
- DRO
- DRA
DRO
- Deliver reinforcer contingent on the nonconcurrence of response following predetermined time interval, while eliminating contingency btw prob bx & its maintaining consequence
- Initial interval length, Varies, often mean IRT
- Procedural variations (Vollmer & Iwata, 1992)
- Fixed, variable or escalating intervals
- Resetting or non-resetting DRO
- Whole-interval DRO or momentary DRO
- Functional or arbitrary reinforcer
DRA
- Deliver reinforcer contingent on appropriate alternative response, usually while withholding the reinforcer following prob bx
- Functional communication training (FCT): Common variation of DRA consisting of delivering the functional reinforcer contingent on communicative response
NCR
- Response-independent or time-based delivery of reinforcer
- Initial schedule: Can be continuous, latency to 1st prob bx or mean IRT
- Typically involves 3 components:
- Reinforcer delivery on a fixed-time schedule
- EXT for prob bx
- Schedule thinning
- Functional or arbitrary reinforcer
Identify the weaknesses of an extinction of SR+ procedure:
check all that apply
- Bx may get worse before it improves
- Restricts access to reinforcement
- Requires a high level of integrity
Identify the weaknesses of a DRO for SR+ procedure:
check all that apply
- Functional replacement skills are not taught
2. Requires a high level of integrity
Which of the following is a strength of an NCR for SR+ procedure?
-Is easy to implement
Which of the following is a strength of a DRA for SR+ procedure?
-Teaches functional alternative to problem behavior
Social Negative Reinforcement
- Common treatments for social negative reinforcement
1. Escape extinction
2. Differential negative RX
3. Antecedent-based interventions
EXT for Behavior Maintained by Negative Reinforcement
- No longer allowing escape or avoidance of aversive stimulus contingent on occurrence of problem bx
- Escape/ avoid demands/ instructions: Con..t presentation of the demands (may also include physically guiding the individual to complete the task)
- Escape or avoid social interactions: con..t engagement with the individual in the presence of prob bx
Differential Negative Reinforcement
- Differential neg Rx of other Bx (DNRO): Provides functional reinforcer contingent on absence of prob bx for a specified amount of time
- Diff neg Rx of alternative bx (DNRA): Provide escape from, or avoidance of aversive stimulus contingent on an appropriate alternative response
- With or without Ext
Name the three common interventions used for social negative reinforcement:
“Escape extinction, DNRA, and antecedent-based interventions”
DNRA
- Alternative Bx:
- Communicative response (FC)
- Functional reinforcer (break)
- Assistance, weaken MO (help)
- Compliance with demand
- Functional or arbitrary reinforcer
Identify the alternative behaviors commonly targeted in a DNRA:
(check all that apply)
- Complete the task
- Request break
- Request assistance
Antecedent-Based Interventions
- Noncontingent escape (NCE): Escape or break from aversive stimulus on time-based schedule independent of responding
- Initial schedule: Usually dense
- Increase time btw reinforce deliveries
- Fixed duration
- Mean IRT
Antecedent-Based Interventions (Con…t)
*Demand (for instructional) fading: Aversive stimulus removed & then gradually reintroduced contingent on low levels of prob bx
Antecedent-Based Interventions (Con…t)
- Curricular (or instructional) revision: Identify aspects of aversive stimulus that occasion prob bx & then make alterations to min or eliminate aversive properties
- Decrease aversiveness of demand context to reduce motivation to engage in prob bx
- Potential MOs (Smith et al., 1995):
- Difficult, novel or non-pretend tasks
- Session duration
- Rate of task presentation
Antony engages in hand biting during school every 20 minutes on average. This results in removal from the classroom. The BCBA scheduled a break from class every 15 minutes, regardless of Antony’s behavior. This is an example of which procedure?
A. DNRA
B. Antecedent-based
C. Escape extinction
B. Antecedent-based
Antony engages in hand biting during school every 20 minutes on average. This results in removal from the classroom. The BCBA scheduled a break from class every 15 minutes, regardless of Antony’s behavior. Which type of antecedent-based procedure is this?
a. NCE
b. Demand fading
c. Curricular revisions
a. NCE
Identify the weaknesses of a demand fading procedure:
(check all that apply)
a. Procedure can take a long time
b. It might be ineffective without extinction
c. Behavior may get worse before it improves
a. Procedure can take a long time
b. It might be ineffective without extinction
Identify the weakness(es) of an NCR for SR- procedure:
check all that apply
-Reduces time engaged in academic tasks
Automatic Reinforcement Common Treatments
- Common treatments for automatic Rx
- Sensory extinction
- Differential Rx
- Nonc-ontingent delivery of competing stimuli
Automatic Reinforcement
- Default function
- Some product of response itself reinforces response
- Nature of that product is subject to debate
- Some form of sensory stimulations is the controlling influence
Treatments for Automatic Reinforcement
- Trt attempts to target presumed form of stimulation/ identify potent competing stimulus
- If form of stimulation cannot be identified to compete with sensory reinforcers
Automatic Reinforcement
- Difficult to identify specific form of sensory consequences
- Often multiple possible sources of stimulation (e.g. hand mouthing-stimulation to hand or mouth?)
- Attempt to identify through continuous & noncontingent access to items thought to mimic putative sensory consequences
Identify the three common treatments used for behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement:
“Sensory extinction, differential reinforcement, and competing stimuli”
EXT
- Ext: Sensory products of the problem bx removed or attenuated to disrupt response -reinforcer contingency
- Protective equipment sometimes used (e.g. helmet, topical anesthetic)
- Permits response to occur
- Prevents response from producing presumed form of stimulation
- Simply preventing the response from occurring is not EXT
Extinction for behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement involves:
(check all that apply)
- Removing the sensory products of the prob bx
- Interrupting the response-reinforcer contingency
- Sometimes using protective equipment
Protective Equipment Issues
- Issues with use of protective equipment
- May prevent adaptive responding
- Social stigma
- Difficulty fading
- (May also obscure functions in functional analysis as previously discussed)
Differential Reinforcement
- Exact form of maintaining outcome is often unknown
- Differential Rx for automatically maintained bx. Deliver potent alternative Rx
- Most commonly in DRO arrangement
- Identify preferred stimulus
- Deliver stimulus contingent upon an initially brief period of omission of the automatically reinforced responses
- Gradually extending the temporal parameters of DRO schedule
DRO
Not always effective
*DRO might be best combined with other procedures (e.g. EXT) that devalue the response products
- Relatively of reinforcers?
- Alternative Rx maybe preferred over products of prob bx when delivered continuously & under conditions of low effort
- DRO schedules maybe viewed as a sort of “cost” in terms of delay to Rx
- Preference for alternative reinforcer offset by “cost” in terms of delay to RX
- DRO contingencies less discriminable?
Identify reasons why a DRO schedule may not be effective for behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement:
(check all that apply)
- Requires a dense schedule
- Requires a very small time window
- Contingencies are less discriminable
It may be best to use DRO with other procedures that lessen the value of the sensory product.
a. True
b. False
a. True
NCR and Competing Stimuli
- Competing stimuli: Noncontingent provision of items found to “compete” with response products
- Competing stimulus assessment:
- Item that best compete (i.e., highest engagement & lowest prob bx) provided continuously for longer periods of time
- Not just highly preferred items
Automatic Reinforcement: Ethical Considerations
- Should we reduce all automatically reinforced bx to 0?
- Can we provide an alternative response that provides a similar form of stimulation?
- Type of response? Does it cause significant harm?
Sensory Extinction: Sensory Rx blocked or mitigated
- Strengths: Highly effective
* Weaknesses/ risks: Maybe difficult or impossible to implement
Competing stimuli: Items that decrease the occurrence of SIB are freely provided
- Strength: May create appropriate alternative skill
* Weaknesses/ risks: Requires multiple assessments to implement
DRO for automatic Sr:
Delivery of reinforcers for not engaging in SIB
- Strength: May identify items that are preferred to SIB
* Weaknesses/ risks: Extinction cannot be implemented, No functional replacement skills taught
DRA for automatic Sr
Reinforcement for alternative Bx (toy play) provided
- Strengths: Trains appropriate alternative skill
* Weaknesses/ Risks: Extinction cannot be implemented. Maybe difficult to train appropriate alternative
Identify the weaknesses of a DRO for automatic SR procedure:
check all that apply
- Cannot use extinction
2. Functional alternatives are not taught
Treatment Decision-Making
- We are taught how to search the literature & how to implement procedures
- Practitioners also need to know When & How to select among them
Function & Effectiveness
*Function-based treatments are OFTEN, but not Always more effective than ones that are not based on the function
Some Factors to Consider
- Need an evidence base
- Topographies, context, skills
- Need a data-based evaluation
- Client specific
- Need to design the intervention well
Clinical Decision-Making
*Critical When:
- Multiple options are available
- Multiple might work under perfect circumstances
- 1 is better suited to the current circumstances & resources
Clinical Decision-Making (Con…t)
- Decision-making is bx
- In the absence of a model to guide decisions, your choice is likely to be one with:
- A longer Rx history
- A recent Rx history
- Less response effort required
Considerations for Determining Treatment Suitability
- These interventions have different advantages & disadvantages based on factors including (but not limited to):
- Client characteristics
- Functions of prob bx
- Topographies of prob bx
Will function-based treatments always be better than non-function-based treatments?
Not necessary
Considerations for Selecting Treatment
*Context & resources
- Available resources
- Staff-to-client ratio
- Staff training & oversight
- Availability of reinforcers
- Ability to provide preferred stimuli
- Disruption to the Env
- Outside influences
Considerations for Selecting Treatment (Con…t)
- Treatment fidelity
- Who is implementing treatment?
- Training
- Ease of implementation of treatment
- Degradation of trt fidelity ?& the impact on trt effectiveness
- Omission errors
- Commission errors
Fryling et al. (2012)
- Reviewed literature related to integrity & intervention efficacy (descriptive analysis & experimental analysis)
- Descriptive studies provide evidence of correlation
- Experimental studies have systematically evaluated the impact
Treatment Integrity Literature Summary
- Wilder et al. (2006)
- Level of compliance correlated with levels of integrity of a prompting procedure
- Stephenson & Hanley (2010)
- Trt outcome maintain when integrity is low if integrity was initially high
Treatment Integrity Literature Summary
- St. Peter Pipkin et al. (2010)
- Evaluated errors of both omission & commission in DRA
- Group 1: Varying omission error levels (20%, 40%, 60% & 80%)
- Group 2: Varying commission error levels
- Group 3: Covarying levels of omission & commission errors
- Group 4: One level of combined errors
Considerations for Selecting Treatment (Con..t)
- Preferences
- Caregiver
- Client
Concurrent Chain Procedures
- Initial link response produces differential access to treatments
- Pattern if initial link responses indicates preference for trt