Identifying preferred break environments for individuals with escape-maintained problem behavior

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2017

First Committee Member

Johnson, Cammarie

Second Committee Member

Graff, Richard

Third Committee Member

Hanley, Gregory

Abstract

"Despite the prevalence of breaks in treatments for escape-maintained problem behavior, few studies have empirically evaluated preferred break environments (e.g., break with attention and/or tangibles). In the current study, a pictorial preference assessment was conducted with 2 individuals with autism to identify preferred break environments. Break environments included in assessments were based on indirect assessments and direct observations. The highest- and lowest-preferred break environments and a control (blank) card with no associated break were included in a reinforcer assessment using an ABA reversal design within a concurrent-chains arrangement. Participants selected a multi-task sequence (initial link) associated with one of the break environments (terminal link). Phase A evaluated the reinforcing properties of all three breaks. In Phase B, the high-preference stimulus was removed. Both participants allocated more responding to the break environments than to the control, with one participant’s performance meeting the stability criterion, suggesting that breaks functioned as reinforcers."

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