Effects of response-independent stimulus delivery and functional communication training

Two individuals with developmental delays with a history of problem behavior participated in this study. Its purpose was to examine the efficacy of combining two treatments demonstrated to reduce problem behavior: response-independent stimulus delivery and differential reinforcement of an alternative behavior. This study examined whether the response-independent delivery of an alternative preferred stimulus and differential reinforcement of manding resulted in increases in manding and suppression of problem behavior prior to and during the fading of the schedule of response-independent stimulus delivery. The study also examined the necessity of extinction to obtain suppression of problem behavior. The response-independent delivery of an alternative preferred stimulus and the implementation of functional communication training resulting in access to the maintaining reinforcer increased manding and decreased problem behavior. Results also suggest tentatively that extinction may be necessary to maintain response suppression during fading of the response-independent stimulus delivery schedule.

Name thesis:degree_name

MA

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2002

Author dc:creator

• Haag, Shannon S.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Cynthia M. Anderson.
• Kennon A. Lattal
• Tracy L. Morris

• Behavioral psychology

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/885

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1888