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Relations Between Consumption of Functional and Arbitrary Reinforcers During Functional Communication Training

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Abstract

We conducted a retrospective analysis of consumption of classes of reinforcement during functional communication training (FCT). The four participants were diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and displayed problem behavior maintained by positive (tangibles) and negative (escape from demands) reinforcement via a functional analysis (FA). In Experiment 1 of the current analysis, data were collected on consumption of tangibles, attention, and escape during reinforcement intervals of FCT. As hypothesized, reinforcers shown to maintain problem behavior were often consumed. However, three participants also consumed moderate to high levels of attention, an arbitrary reinforcer not identified by the FA. In Experiment 2, we studied the relationship between quality of attention and consumption of attention. Significant correlations were shown between quality of attention and consumption of attention for three participants. These data showed that while classes of reinforcement identified as maintaining problem behavior are consistently consumed during FCT, arbitrary classes of reinforcement might be important to consider also for treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number and title for grant amount (R4OMC22644, Behavioral treatment through in-home telehealth for young children with autism, $926,743). This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Rachael M. Fewell

  2. Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA

    Patrick W. Romani

  3. Center for Disabilities and Development, University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, IA, USA

    David P. Wacker, Scott D. Lindgren & Debra B. Waldron

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Todd G. Kopelman

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  1. Rachael M. Fewell
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Correspondence to Rachael M. Fewell.

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Funding

This project was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number and title for grant amount (R4OMC22644, Behavioral treatment through in-home telehealth for young children with autism, $926,743).

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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All authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Fewell, R.M., Romani, P.W., Wacker, D.P. et al. Relations Between Consumption of Functional and Arbitrary Reinforcers During Functional Communication Training. J Dev Phys Disabil 28, 237–253 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-015-9463-z

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