1
|
Yassa RR, Mitteer DR, Greer BD, Angley SM, McCabe LH, Elwasli OM. Teaching trainees to implement functional communication training with multiple schedules: An evaluation of training effects and durability. J Appl Behav Anal 2024. [PMID: 39323390 DOI: 10.1002/jaba.2915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
We evaluated the effects of behavioral skills training on improving participant implementation of functional communication training with multiple schedules when working with a confederate. Behavioral skills training produced mastery-level responding for all six participants who required training, providing the first empirically supported training for this functional communication training approach. Next, we assessed durability during training challenges with (a) procedural changes to the original protocol, (b) a novel confederate with different discriminative stimuli and reinforcers, and (c) relapsed confederate destructive behavior. Training effects degraded at least once for all participants and in 62% of training challenges, although continuing to expose the participant to the challenging situations or providing postsession booster training resolved the degradation in most cases. We discuss these findings in relation to their clinical implications and directions for future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rana R Yassa
- Department of Applied Psychology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Daniel R Mitteer
- Severe Behavior Program, Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH-RUCARES), Somerset, NJ, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Brian D Greer
- Severe Behavior Program, Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH-RUCARES), Somerset, NJ, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
- Rutgers Brain Health Institute, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Shannon M Angley
- Severe Behavior Program, Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH-RUCARES), Somerset, NJ, USA
| | - Liam H McCabe
- Severe Behavior Program, Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH-RUCARES), Somerset, NJ, USA
| | - Omar M Elwasli
- Severe Behavior Program, Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH-RUCARES), Somerset, NJ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Smith SW, Arroyo Antúnez BE, DeBartelo J, Sullivan WE, Roane HS, Craig AR. Synthesized alternative reinforcement and resurgence. J Exp Anal Behav 2024. [PMID: 39086124 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.4202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
In treatments based on differential reinforcement of alternative behavior, applied researchers and clinicians often provide multiple, qualitatively different reinforcers (i.e., synthesized reinforcement) rather than a single reinforcer (i.e., isolated reinforcement) contingent on alternative behavior. Some research shows that providing synthesized reinforcement for alternative responses within such treatments produces more rapid and complete suppression of target behavior; however, there is limited research evaluating the durability of these effects during treatment disruptions. Conceptual explanations of resurgence (e.g., resurgence as choice, context theory) suggest that treatments that include synthesized alternative reinforcement may lead to more resurgence of target behavior when alternative reinforcement is disrupted relative to treatments using isolated reinforcement. We evaluated this hypothesis within a three-phase resurgence evaluation. We exposed rats to isolated or synthesized reinforcement for alternative responding in the second phase, and we exposed rats to extinction in the third phase. Synthesized alternative reinforcement produced more rapid and complete suppression of target behavior than did isolated reinforcement in the second phase; however, exposure to extinction following synthesized reinforcement produced more resurgence. We discuss these results in terms of their implications for applied research and their support for current conceptual explanations for resurgence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sean W Smith
- SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shahan TA, Sutton GM, Van Allsburg J, Avellaneda M, Greer BD. Resurgence Following Higher or Lower Quality Alternative Reinforcement. J Exp Anal Behav 2024; 121:246-258. [PMID: 38329150 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Resurgence is a temporary increase in a previously suppressed target behavior following a worsening in reinforcement conditions. Previous studies have examined how higher rates or magnitudes of alternative reinforcement affect suppression of the target behavior and subsequent resurgence. However, there has been no investigation of the effects of higher versus lower qualities of alternative reinforcement on resurgence. Using a three-phase resurgence preparation with rats, the present experiments examined the effects of an alternative reinforcer that was of higher (Experiment 1) or lower (Experiment 2) quality than the reinforcer that had previously maintained the target behavior. The results of both experiments showed greater reductions in target behavior with a higher quality alternative reinforcer and larger increases in target responding when a higher quality alternative reinforcer was removed. Along with prior findings with higher rates and magnitudes of alternative reinforcement, these findings suggest that variations in reinforcer dimensions that increase the efficacy of alternative reinforcement also tend to increase resurgence when alternative reinforcement is removed. The results are discussed in terms of the resurgence as choice in context model and in terms of potential clinical implications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Brian D Greer
- Children's Specialized Hospital-Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH-RUCARES), Somerset, NJ, USA
- Rutgers Brain Health Institute, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Boyle MA, Uribe-Zarain X, Powell AM. Behavioral contrast: An exploratory survey of practitioner experiences. J Appl Behav Anal 2023; 56:842-852. [PMID: 37677017 DOI: 10.1002/jaba.1022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Behavioral contrast is defined as a change in reinforcement conditions in one context that causes a change in behavior in the opposite direction in another, unchanged context. Although behavioral contrast has implications for applied behavior analysts, researchers have not examined ramifications or identified common methods of mitigating contrast in applied settings. Therefore, we surveyed Board Certified Behavior Analysts in an exploratory investigation to determine practitioner experiences with behavioral contrast. Participants' responses reflected a variety of themes: contrast resulted in conversations with stakeholders; supporting stakeholders and mitigating factors are important; contrast is due to inconsistencies across settings; and contrast affects stakeholder buy-in, hurts rapport or relationships, and produces negative emotions. Our results suggest that contrast is not an innocuous occurrence in applied settings. We recommend a variety of areas for future research to further predict and control contrast and to identify the extent to which it affects clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan A Boyle
- Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, USA
| | - Ximena Uribe-Zarain
- Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, USA
| | - Ann M Powell
- Department of Counseling, Leadership, and Special Education, Missouri State University, Springfield, MO, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Nist AN, Shahan TA. Examining resurgence in rats following expanded-operant treatments. J Exp Anal Behav 2023; 120:186-203. [PMID: 37337718 PMCID: PMC10721342 DOI: 10.1002/jeab.870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Resurgence of previously reinforced behavior represents a challenge to otherwise successful interventions based on differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA). Expanded-operant treatments seek to increase the number of functional alternative behaviors through DRA, thereby potentially mitigating resurgence. However, the few studies that have directly examined these methods as a tool for resurgence mitigation have provided limited and unclear results. Thus, the present experiments were designed to investigate the effect of expanded-operant DRA methods on resurgence of previously reinforced behavior using rat subjects. In two experiments, following a baseline phase in which a target response was trained, groups of rats experienced concurrent (i.e., five simultaneous alternative responses), serial (i.e., five sequentially available alternative responses), or single DRA interventions arranging similar rates of alternative reinforcement in order to examine potential differences in resurgence. Both experiments showed that neither serial nor concurrent DRA expanded-operant treatments reduced resurgence compared with single DRA regardless of whether stimuli associated with previously reinforced alternative responses were removed (Experiment 1) or remained present (Experiment 2) for the serial-DRA group. Further, a primacy effect in resurgence was obtained for the serial-DRA group in both experiments. Overall, these results suggest that expanded-operant treatments may not help to reduce resurgence.
Collapse
|
6
|
Kimball RT, Greer BD, Fuhrman AM, Lambert JM. Relapse and its mitigation: Toward behavioral inoculation. J Appl Behav Anal 2023; 56:282-301. [PMID: 36715533 PMCID: PMC10121865 DOI: 10.1002/jaba.971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Relapse following the successful treatment of problem behavior can increase the likelihood of injury and the need for more intensive care. Current research offers some predictions of how treatment procedures may contribute to relapse, and conversely, how the risk of relapse can be mitigated. This review describes relapse-mitigation procedures with varying levels of support, the quantitative models that have influenced the research on relapse mitigation, different experimental methods for measuring relapse mitigation, and directions for future research. We propose that by viewing the implementation of relapse-mitigation procedures as a means of producing behavioral inoculation, clinicians are placed in the proactive and intentional role of exposing their client's behavior to an array of reinforcement and stimulus conditions during treatment with the goal of decreasing the detrimental impact of future treatment challenges.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ryan T. Kimball
- Department of Counseling and Applied Behavioral Studies, University of Saint Joseph
| | - Brian D. Greer
- Rutgers Brain Health Institute
- Severe Behavior Program, Children’s Specialized Hospital–Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH–RUCARES)
- Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
| | - Ashley M. Fuhrman
- Severe Behavior Program, Children’s Specialized Hospital–Rutgers University Center for Autism Research, Education, and Services (CSH–RUCARES)
- Department of Pediatrics, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Brown KR, Hurd AM, Randall KR, Szabo T, Mitteer DR. A Family-Centered Care Approach to Behavior-Analytic Assessment and Intervention. Behav Anal Pract 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s40617-022-00756-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
|
8
|
Greer BD, Fisher WW, Fuhrman AM, Mitteer DR. Conducting Translational Research in the Context of Patient Care. Perspect Behav Sci 2022; 45:383-398. [PMID: 35719871 PMCID: PMC9163257 DOI: 10.1007/s40614-022-00333-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Although much has been written on the importance of translational research for bridging the continuum of basic science to clinical practice, few authors have described how such work can be carried out practically when working with patient populations in the context of ongoing clinical service delivery, where the priorities for patient care can sometimes conflict with the methods and goals of translational research. In this article, we explore some of the considerations for conducting this type of work while balancing clinical responsibilities that ensure high-quality patient care. We also discuss strategies we have found to jointly facilitate translational research and improve routine, clinical service delivery. A primary goal of this article is to encourage others working in applied settings to contribute to the increasingly important role that translational research plays in our science and practice by helping to better characterize and potentially lessen or remove barriers that may have impeded such investigations in the past.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brian D. Greer
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | - Wayne W. Fisher
- Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ USA
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Weinsztok SC, DeLeon IG. The mitigating effects of enhanced reinforcer magnitude and quality on treatment degradation. J Appl Behav Anal 2022; 55:547-571. [PMID: 35229884 DOI: 10.1002/jaba.910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior is a common intervention for problem behavior in persons with neurodevelopmental disorders, but it is susceptible to integrity errors that can degrade treatment effects. Manipulating reinforcement parameters to favor alternative behavior might make it more persistent in the face of integrity errors. We devised an analog of differential reinforcement of alternative behavior to examine if enhanced reinforcer magnitude or quality for the alternative response could protect against treatment degradation. Across 2 experiments, reinforcer magnitude or quality was manipulated to favor the alternative response in 1 condition but kept constant across both alternative and target responses in a second condition. Comparisons of the 2 conditions indicated that higher-magnitude or higher-quality reinforcement for alternative behavior can mitigate against treatment degradation when treatment errors occur and provided support for the utility of considering parameters of reinforcement when developing behavioral interventions for problem behavior.
Collapse
|