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An Approach to Identifying the Conditions Under Which Response Interruption Will Reduce Automatically Reinforced Problem Behavior

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Abstract

Response interruption is a common intervention for problem behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement, but this intervention is challenging for caregivers to implement with consistent fidelity. In the current study, we challenged the integrity of response interruption across two participants by examining carry over into conditions in which the procedure was not implemented, by removing the presence of an interventionist, and by introducing delays to implementation. The results indicated that these challenges severely compromised treatment efficacy. Conditions under which response interruption procedures are likely to be effective and possible strategies to increase the effectiveness of response interruption are discussed.

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Author notes

  1. Jeffrey H. Tiger

    Present address: Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, PO Box 413, Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA

  2. Megan L. Kliebert

    Present address: Marcus Autism Center, Atlanta, USA

  3. Karen A. Toussaint

    Present address: Munroe-Meyer Institute, Omaha, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, USA

    Megan L. Kliebert, Jeffrey H. Tiger & Karen A. Toussaint

Authors
  1. Megan L. Kliebert
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  2. Jeffrey H. Tiger
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  3. Karen A. Toussaint
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jeffrey H. Tiger.

Additional information

This study was conducted in partial completion of the requirements for the Masters of Arts in School Psychology degree from Louisiana State University by the first author.

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Kliebert, M.L., Tiger, J.H. & Toussaint, K.A. An Approach to Identifying the Conditions Under Which Response Interruption Will Reduce Automatically Reinforced Problem Behavior. Behav Analysis Practice 4, 17–26 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03391771

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03391771

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