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Evaluating Treatments for Functionally Equivalent Problem Behavior Maintained by Adult Compliance with Mands During Interactive Play

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Abstract

A primary goal of behavioral interventions is to reduce dangerous or inappropriate behavior and to generalize treatment effects across various settings. However, there is a lack of research evaluating generalization of treatment effects while individuals with functionally equivalent problem behavior interact with each other. For the current study, the severe problem behavior of two participants with developmental disabilities was targeted for assessment and treatment. Results of a functional analysis indicated that for both participants, problem behaviors occurred when destructive behavior produced reinforcement of participant mands . The use of a multiple schedule that alternated between differential reinforcement of other behaviors and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (mands) was sufficient to produce a significant reduction in problem behavior for one participant; the addition of differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors via compliance was necessary for the second participant. Extended treatment sessions, which focused on interaction between the two participants, involved one therapist concurrently implementing each participant’s treatment while they were directed to play with one another (a situation that previously evoked problem behavior). Results show that each participant’s treatment produced low to zero rates of problem behavior even during extended interactions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Psychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Jonathan D. Schmidt, Mary K. Bednar, Lena V. Willse, Amanda L. Goetzel, Anthony Concepcion, Shari M. Pincus, Samantha L. Hardesty & Lynn G. Bowman

  2. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Jonathan D. Schmidt & Lynn G. Bowman

Authors
  1. Jonathan D. Schmidt
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  2. Mary K. Bednar
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  3. Lena V. Willse
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  4. Amanda L. Goetzel
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  5. Anthony Concepcion
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  6. Shari M. Pincus
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  7. Samantha L. Hardesty
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  8. Lynn G. Bowman
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Correspondence to Jonathan D. Schmidt.

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All of the authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical Approval

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 Declarations and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed Consent

Informed consent was obtained from the legal guardians of all individual participants in the study.

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Schmidt, J.D., Bednar, M.K., Willse, L.V. et al. Evaluating Treatments for Functionally Equivalent Problem Behavior Maintained by Adult Compliance with Mands During Interactive Play. J Behav Educ 26, 169–187 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-016-9264-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-016-9264-1

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