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Response Cost and Time-Out from Reinforcement

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Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis Interventions for Autism

Abstract

Response cost and time-out are behavior change tactics that have been applied widely as part of intervention efforts to reduce problematic behaviors of excess (e.g., aggression, self-injurious behavior [SIB], property destruction, noncompliance, disruptive behavior, tantrums, pica) demonstrated by individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and other developmental disorders. Both response cost and time-out procedures have been demonstrated to be effective in isolation as well as in combination with other behavior change tactics (e.g., noncontingent reinforcement [NCR]; differential reinforcement of other behaviors [DRO]; differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors [DRA]; stimulus control procedures). In this chapter, we describe the principles from which response cost and time-out are derived; relevant basic findings that predated applications of the procedures; examples of the clinical application of the procedures; and considerations for their use including advantages, disadvantages, and ethical considerations.

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Correspondence to Terry S. Falcomata .

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Bagwell, A., Barnett, M., Falcomata, T.S. (2022). Response Cost and Time-Out from Reinforcement. In: Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H., Ferguson, J.L., Weiss, M.J. (eds) Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis Interventions for Autism. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-96478-8_25

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