Units 1-6 Flashcards
Type of work conducted in early behavior analysis
Topography based behavior modification/management
Populations served in early behavior analysis
Prisoners, severe autism, mental retardation, schizophrenia
Conducted the early applications of behavior analysis
Behavioral experimental psychology graduates
Used by ABA pioneers to evaluate effectiveness in the real world
Early applications of EAB
Year ABA was formalized
1968
Caused the drift to behavior modification and management
Institutional need for “behavior modifiers”
Approach used by behavior modifiers
“Topography based” behavior reduction
Focuses only on problem behavior
Behavior management
4 characteristics of behavior modification/management
- Cook-book approach
- Topography-based
- Technologist
- Procedures at the core
4 characteristics of behavior analysis
- Individualized
- Function-based
- Analysts
- Basic principles at the core
4 characteristics of problem behavior
- Minimizes achieving meaningful outcomes
- Minimizes access to reinforcers
- Maximizes contact with punishers
- May result in restricted access to community
5 parameters of problem behavior
- Rate (too high)
- IRT (too short)
- Duration (too long)
- Severity/intensity (too high)
- Wrong place, situation, or . time
Model for treating problem behavior based on form of the behavior
Topography-based treatment model
3 characteristics of topography-based treatment procedures
- Delivered aversive and restrictive punishers
- Used artificial and arbitrary reinforcers
- Used thinned reinforcement schedules
“One-size fits all” approach
Cook-book approach
Taught non-functional incompatible behavior
Topography-based DRI
Alternative behavior benefited caregivers and not client
Topography-based DRA
3 limitations of the topography-based treatment model
- Contingent relations not broken
- Behavior did not maintain or generalize
- Problem behavior hidden under tight stimulus control
Model for treating problem behavior based on the function
Function-based treatment model
An appropriate form of communication is taught to replace problem behavior
Functional Communication Training (FCT)
FCT-stage 1
Conduct a functional assessment or analysis
FCT-stage 2
Train and differentially reinforce communicative response
FCT-stage 3
Transfer control to real-life settings and persons
More specific words taught and results in a larger speaker repertoire
Mand training
3 strategies for promoting generalization in FCT
- Incorporate multiple trainers and settings
- Include all stimuli
- Sequential modification
Is our subject matter behavior alone?
No; includes operants, respondents, contingencies, functional relations
Are the “functions of behavior” only “attention, tangibles, escape and automatic reinforcement”?
No; typical statements about function are oversimplifications
Should antecedents have only a first name?
No; antecedents only exist in relation to consequences (last name)
Can we neglect context?
No; behavior changes in relation to context
Are we effective if we only change behavior?
No; change real-world contingencies to achieve meaningful outcomes
Manipulation of a stimulus produces a reliable and predictable change in a response
Functional relation
4 characteristics of functional relations
- Probabilisitic
- Nonlinear
- Complex
- Allows for predictions
Not cause and effect or deterministic
Functional relations are probabilistic
Compared to non-linear equations in calculus
Functional relations are non-linear
Functional relations change with respect to context
Functional relations are complex
What an organism “does” and “why’
Everyday usage of the term function
A mathematical relation between stimulus classes and response classes
Scientific usage of the term function
Problem with using the “everyday definition of function”
Practitioners use teleological explanations
One event depends on another
Contingency
Derive effects on behavior from a past history of differential availability with a consequence
Discriminative Stimuli
Derive effects on behavior from their value altering effect on consequences
Motivating operations
Consequence leads to the development of that discriminative stimulus
Last name of discriminative stimuli
The consequence whose value is being altered
Last name of motivating operations
2 or more simultaneous, but independent schedules for different responses
Concurrent Schedules
Distribution of bx on concurrent schedules of SR+ to predict response allocation
The matching law
4 other variables influencing response allocation (choice)
- Response effort
- Response quality
- Reinforcer delay
- Reinforcer magnitude/duration
Amount of effort to complete a response
Response effort
Time it takes to deliver a reinforcer
Reinforcer delay
Overall value of a reinforcer
Reinforcer quality
Amount of reinforcer provided
Reinforcer magnitude
Length of access to a reinforcer
Reinforcer duration
A previously reinforced behavior no longer produces reinforcement
Operant Extinction (EXT)
Contingency between the response and reinforcer is broken
Underlying mechanism of extinction
Withhold all attention following the response
Extinction procedure for behavior maintained by attention
Deny access to item following the response
Extinction procedure for behavior maintained by access to tangibles
Mask the sensory consequences of the response
Extinction procedure for behavior maintained by sensory effects (automatic)
Continue the demand following the response until task is completed
Extinction procedures for behavior maintained by escape
Unwanted effects of extinctions x4
- Extinction burst
- Extinction-induced aggression
- Behavioral contrast
- Spontaneous recovery
Brief increase in response variabilitiy following extinction
Extinction burst
Violent acts directed at the previous source of reinforcement
Extinction-induced aggression
Increase responding in settings uncorrelated with EXT
Behavioral contrast
Random reoccurrence of previously reinforced behavior
Spontaneous recovery
3 strategies for minimizing the unwanted effects of EXT
- Combine with other procedures
- Switch to CRF schedule for problem behavior
- Identify response class hierarchies
3 strategies for mitigating unwanted effects of EXT:
- Inform caregivers of unwanted effects
- Provide caregivers with procedures
- Withhold reinforcer if spontaneous recovery occures
3 other factors to consider when using EXT
- Length of reinforcement history
- Baseline schedule of reinforcement
- Baseline parameters of reinforcement
Two effects of differential reinforcement
- Differentiation
2. Discrimination
R1 = SR R2 = EXT
Differentiation
S1 - R1 = SR
S2 - R1 = EXT
Discrimination
Reinforcement is delivered at the end of a time interval for absence of target behavior
DRO
DRO Interval Criterion
50% to 80% below the average baseline IRT
3 general types of DRO schedules
- Interval DRO
- Momentary DRO
- Progressive DRO
Reinforcement is delivered at the end of the interval if no target behavior at that exact moment
Momentary DRO
Reinforcement is delivered at the end of the interval contingent on zero occurrences of the target problem behavior during the entire interval
Interval DRO
Progressively greater amount of reinforcement is delivered for each interval criterion met
Progressive DRO or DRO-P
9 common DRO mistakes
- DRO for low rate of behavior
- DRO interval above average IRT
- Failing to reset timer if problem behavior occurs
- Inconsistent and extra criteria for problem behavior
- Accidentally reinforcing other problem behavior
- Reinforcing “dead person’s” behavior
- Failing to select a competing reinforcer
- Using the same reinforcer to satiation
- Failing to use EXT for problem behavior
Reinforcement is delivered for a response physically incompatible with the target behavior
DRI
6 common mistakes of DRI
- Select the wrong incompatible behavior
- Failing to select a competing reinforcer
- Using wrong reinforcement schedule
- Reinforcing a chain of problem behavior
- Failing to also reinforce alternative behavior
- Failing to use EXT for problem behavior
Reinforcement is delivered for a response that competes with the target behavior
DRA
4 common mistakes of DRA
- Select the wrong alternative behavior
- Failing to select a competing reinforcer
- Using wrong reinforcement schedule
- Reinforcing a chain of problem behavior
Reinforcement delivered if target behavior is at or below the maximum responses in a given time period
DRL
3 types of DRL schedules:
- Full session DRL
- Interval DRL
- DRL-T (spaced responding)
Reinforcement delivered at the end of the entire session if target behavior meets criterion
Full session DRL
Reinforcement delivered at te end of each interval in session if target behavior meets criterion
Interval DRL
Reinforcement delivered if a minimum amount of time has passed since last response
DRL-T (spaced responding)
Types of target behavior to select when using DRL
Minor problem behavior
2 common DRL mistakes
- Using DRL for severe problem behavior
2. Using full session/interval DRL with naive learners
Reinforcement delivered if target behavior progressively meets the changing criterion
DRD
Reinforcement delivered if target behavior occurs between a specified minimum and maximum rate/IRT
DRP
Manipulation of environmental events prior to the occurrence of target behavior
Antecedent interventions
2 categories of antecedent interventions
Generic and function based
Used irrespective of the maintaining contingency
Generic antecedent interventions (default interventions)
Used to manipulate part of the contingency maintaining target behavior
Function-based interventions
4 underlying mechanisms of antecedent interventions:
- MO effects
- Discriminative effects
- Contingency-breaking effects
- Restrict ability to engage in behavior
Alter the consequence effectiveness to evoke or abate bx
MO effects
Alter the discriminative control over bx
Discriminative effects
Break/weaken the contingent relation between problem bx and reinforcer
Contingency-breaking effects
Make it difficult or impossible to engage in problem bx
Restrict ability to engage in bx
Antecedent effect on bx
Momentary effect
3 considerations of antecedent interventions:
- Only use as a component of a treatment plan
- Combine with reinforcement procedures
- Include EXT/Punishment procedures if needed
4 common mistakes of antecedent interventions
- Use of structural terms
- Use of non-conceptually systematic terms
- Failure to identify underlying mechanisms
- Failure to use generalizable effects
2 solutions to antecedent mistakes:
- Use functional rather than structural terms
2. Tie procedures to specific principles of bx
Defined by effects on bx, other stimuli, and role in functional relations
Functional terms
Defined by their features; not tied to principles of bx
Structural terms
2types of structural terms:
- Setting events
2. Ecological variables
A temporally remote, or extended, compound event
Setting event
Non-discrete stimuli overlap discrete antecedent-behavior relationships
Ecological variables
8 generic antecedent interventions:
- Discriminative control strategies
- Environmental enrichment
- Antecedent exercise
- Relaxation exercise
- Cushion antecedent predictors
- No not mention bad behavior
- Medical treatment
- Non-contingent restraints
Alter discriminative control over bx
Discriminative stimulus control strategies
4 types of discriminative control strategies:
- DevelopSD for prosocial x
- SDs for problem bx intoSDs for prosocial bx and S deltas for problem bx
- EOs for problem bx into SDs for prosocial bx
- Transfer of discriminative control
Non-contingent access to attention, items, and activities, etc. in a target setting
Environmental enrichment
Non-contingently engaged in systematic exercise program
Antecedent exercise
Progressive relaxation
Behavioral relaxation
Relaxation exercises
Identify the event evoking problem bx and modify it to abate to bx
Cushion antecedent predictors
Do not talk as if the person is not there
Do no mention bad behavior
Use for health-related issues and often treated by a physician
Medical treatment
Non-contingent addition of highly restrictive protective equipment
Non-contingent restraints
Preferred stimulus delivered at point in time without response requirement
Time-based schedules
2 types of time-based schedules:
- Fixed time
2. Variable time
3 advantages of time-based schedules
- breaks contingency and abates problem bx
- Easy to use
- More robust effects than DRO or EXT
Disadvantage of time-based schedules
Does not necessarily increase prosocial replacement bx
7 antecedent interventions for problem bx maintained by social negative reinforcement
- Stimulus fading in
- Graduated exposure/desensitization
- Altering demands (many variations)
- Provide choice
- Time contingent escape
- Relocate client/others
- Move local of activities
Gradual changes of the antecedent stimulus while the response stays the same
Stimulus fading in
Create stimulus hierarchy and gradually introduce stimuli from least to most likely to evoke/elicit
Graduate exposure/desensitization
4 ways to alter demands:
- alter timing
- embed demands
- provide assistance
- increase predictability
Deliver demands when an individual is not engaged in a preferred activity
Altering timing
Place demands in context with SDs for SR+
Embed demands
Help the individual engage in difficult/non-preferred tasks
Provide assistance
Establish a routine or schedule to inform the individual of what is next
Increase predictability
3 instructional modifications for escape maintained bx
- Modify features of the task
- Redesign curriculum
- Use DI, PT, etc.
Options of activities or tasks: order, time of day, who with, how to do it
Providing choice
Provide frequent breaks on a time-contingent schedule
Time-contingent escape
Move the client, others, and or/task
Relocate client/move locale of activities
2 antecedent interventions for problem bx maintained by attention:
- Time-contingent attention
2. Discriminative stimulus control strategies
Provide attention on a time-contingent schedule
Time-contingent attention
Salient stimulus introduced to signal increased availability of attention, then faded to natural cues
Discriminative stimulus control strategies
Time-contingent access to tangible items/activities
Antecedent intervention for problem bx maintained by access to tangibles
Provide access to materials/activities on a time-contingent schedule
Time-contingent access to tangible items/activities
3 antecedent interventions for problem bx maintained by automatic reinforcement
- Time-contingent delivery of competing stimuli
- Time-contingent delivery of drugs/drug substitutes
- Transfer of appetitive features of restraints
Deliver competing stimuli on a time-contingent schedule
Time-contingent delivery of competing stimuli
Deliver prescribed drugs and drug substitutes on a time-contingent schedule
Time-contingent delivery of drugs/drug substitutes
Gradually reduce some preferred feature of the restrained through fading
Transfer of appetitive features of restraints
3 treatments for bx maintained by social positive reinforcement (SR+)
- EXT
- Differential reinforcement
- NCR
Withholding attention or tangible item contingent on problem bx
EXT procedure for bx maintained by social SR+
EXT as a process
Decrease in a response by discontinuing response-reinforcer contingency
EXT as a procedure
Withholding a specific reinforcer following problem bx
Reinforcing one response while withholding reinforcers for another
Differential reinforcement
Response-independent or time-based delivery of reinforcer
Non-contingent reinforcement (NCR)
3 treatments for bx maintained by Social negative reinforcement (SR-)
- EXT
- Differential reinforcement
- Antecedent-based interventions
EXT procedure for bx maintained by social SR-
Withholding escape of an aversive stimulus contingent on problem bx
Provide escape contingent on the absence of problem bx for a period of time
DNRO
Provide escape from aversive stimuli contingent on appropriate alternative response
DNRA
3 antecedent based interventions for bx maintained by social SR-
- Non contingent escape
- Demand fading
- Curricular (instructional) revision
3 treatments for bx maintained by automatic reinforcement
- EXT
- Differential reinforcement
- Competing Stimuli
A product of the response itself reinforces the response
Automatic reinforcement
EXT procedure for bx maintained by automatic reinforcement
Masking reinforcing sensory stimulation contingent on problem bx
Non contingent delivery of items found to compete with response products
Competing stimuli
Method for identifying items that compete with the response product
Competing stimulus assessment
Why EXT may be impractical
Difficult or not feasible to implement EXT in natural environment
Increase duration of time in which bx must be absent
DRO schedule thinning procedure
3 DRA schedule thinning procedures
- Increase time between response and reinforcer
- Increase number of responses required for reinforcer access
- Dense to lean fixed-interval schedule
Increase the passage of time required for delivery the reinforcer
NCR schedule thinning procedure
3 considerations for selecting a functional communication topography
- Audience
- Response effort
- Behavioral repertoire
Relied upon by untrained people due to its quick effects of decreasing in bx
Punishment is a default technology
When the use of punishment may be warranted
Topographies of bx likely to cause harm to one’s self/others
5 common ethical concerns of punishment
- Data collection (long term effects)
- Appropriate procedure for the function
- Legality of procedures
- Supportive environment
- Review and approval
6 positive punishment procedures
- Reprimands
- Response blocking
- Contingent exercise
- Overcorrection
- Contingent electric stimulation
- Presentation of other aversive stimuli
A statement of social disapproval is delivered following problem bx
Reprimands
Require to perform a response topographically different from the problem bx
Contingent exercise
Required to exert effort contingent upon problem bx
Overcorrection
2 types of overcorrection
- Restitutional overcorrection
2. Positive practice
Required to restore the environment beyond its original state
Restitutional overcorrection
Required to repeatedly practice the behavior in the correct way
Positive practice
Required to restore the environment back to its original state
Simple restitution
Brief electrical stimulus delivered following a problem bx
Contingent electric stimulation
Aversive stimuli delivered contingent on problem bx
Presentation of aversive stimuli
Physically intervening to prevent the completion of the response
Response blocking
3 negative punishment procedures
- Time out
- Response cost
- Fines/penalties
Unable to earn SR+ for a specified time period contingent on problem bx
Time out from positive reinforcement
2 main types of time out
- Non-exclusionary
2. Exclusionary
Time out procedure where the individual remains in the environment
Non-exclusionary time out
Time out procedure where the individual is removed from the environment
Exclusionary time out
4 types of non-exclusionary time out
- Planned ignoring
- Time out ribbon
- Contingent observation
- Withdrawal of a specific reinforcer
3 types of exclusionary time out
- Partition or barrier
- Hallway
- Other room
Loss of a specific amount of SR+ contingent on problem bx
Response cost
5 variables affecting punishment effectiveness
- Intensity
- Behavior chains
- Schedule of delivery
- Conflicting rules
- Delay of delivery
Deliver punishment at a high intensity
Intensity of punishment
Deliver punishers at the beginning of a chain
Behavior chains and punishment
Deliver punishment every time problem bx occurs
Punishment delivery schedule
Deliver punishment immediately following an instance of problem bx
Delay of punishment delivery
Present a neutral stimulus along with a punisher following problem bx
Conditioned punisher
5 considerations for punishment procedures
- Include procedures to replace bx
- Program for reinforcement
- Use minimal intrusiveness
- Use based on literature and competencies
- Vary punishers when feasible