Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) plus extinction for problem behavior is an evidence-based intervention for individuals diagnosed with autism. However, researchers have recently begun investigating DRA without extinction, given this treatment component may be unsafe or impractical to implement in practice. Although preliminary research has indicated DRA without extinction as an effective intervention alternative, little is known about the long-term implications of this intervention, especially as it relates to resurgence. This study investigated resurgence following DRA with and without extinction using a three-phase resurgence assessment in a human-operant arrangement across 60 college-aged participants. Several study iterations were required to address technical and procedural limitations, which are documented and described in detail within this document. The results of the final iteration showed no statistically significant differences in the prevalence, magnitude, or persistence of resurgence between groups. Discussion of these findings, clinical implications, and directions for future translational research are discussed.
","abstract_html":"<p>Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) plus extinction for problem behavior is an evidence-based intervention for individuals diagnosed with autism. However, researchers have recently begun investigating DRA without extinction, given this treatment component may be unsafe or impractical to implement in practice. Although preliminary research has indicated DRA without extinction as an effective intervention alternative, little is known about the long-term implications of this intervention, especially as it relates to resurgence. This study investigated resurgence following DRA with and without extinction using a three-phase resurgence assessment in a human-operant arrangement across 60 college-aged participants. Several study iterations were required to address technical and procedural limitations, which are documented and described in detail within this document. The results of the final iteration showed no statistically significant differences in the prevalence, magnitude, or persistence of resurgence between groups. Discussion of these findings, clinical implications, and directions for future translational research are discussed.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["DeWitt, Skylar"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Adam M. Briggs, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Chair","Thomas J. Waltz, Ph.D., Ph.D.","James T. Todd, Ph.D."],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2024,"date_issued":"2024-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2024-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:53Z","subjects":["differential reinforcement","extinction","resurgence","translational research","Psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1255","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Adam M. Briggs, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Chair","Thomas J. Waltz, Ph.D., Ph.D.","James T. Todd, Ph.D."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["DeWitt, Skylar"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2024-09-13T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Psychology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["differential reinforcement","extinction","resurgence","translational research","Psychology"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1255"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) plus extinction for problem behavior is an evidence-based intervention for individuals diagnosed with autism. However, researchers have recently begun investigating DRA without extinction, given this treatment component may be unsafe or impractical to implement in practice. Although preliminary research has indicated DRA without extinction as an effective intervention alternative, little is known about the long-term implications of this intervention, especially as it relates to resurgence. This study investigated resurgence following DRA with and without extinction using a three-phase resurgence assessment in a human-operant arrangement across 60 college-aged participants. Several study iterations were required to address technical and procedural limitations, which are documented and described in detail within this document. The results of the final iteration showed no statistically significant differences in the prevalence, magnitude, or persistence of resurgence between groups. Discussion of these findings, clinical implications, and directions for future translational research are discussed.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Evaluation of resurgence following differential reinforcement of alternative behavior with and without extinction in a human-operant model"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Adam M. Briggs, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, Chair","Thomas J. Waltz, Ph.D., Ph.D.","James T. Todd, Ph.D."],"dc:creator":["DeWitt, Skylar"],"dc:date.available":["2024-09-13T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) plus extinction for problem behavior is an evidence-based intervention for individuals diagnosed with autism. However, researchers have recently begun investigating DRA without extinction, given this treatment component may be unsafe or impractical to implement in practice. Although preliminary research has indicated DRA without extinction as an effective intervention alternative, little is known about the long-term implications of this intervention, especially as it relates to resurgence. This study investigated resurgence following DRA with and without extinction using a three-phase resurgence assessment in a human-operant arrangement across 60 college-aged participants. Several study iterations were required to address technical and procedural limitations, which are documented and described in detail within this document. The results of the final iteration showed no statistically significant differences in the prevalence, magnitude, or persistence of resurgence between groups. Discussion of these findings, clinical implications, and directions for future translational research are discussed.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/1255"],"dc:subject":["differential reinforcement","extinction","resurgence","translational research","Psychology"],"dc:title":["Evaluation of resurgence following differential reinforcement of alternative behavior with and without extinction in a human-operant model"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:53Z"}