A preliminary procedure for predicting the positive and negative effects of reinforcement-based procedures.
In the current investigation, a modification was made to the preference assessment described by Pace, Ivancic, Edwards, Iwata, and Page (1985) to predict the effects of stimuli when used in a differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DRO) schedule for 2 clients with severe self-injurious behavior (SIB) and profound mental retardation. Based on the results of the preference assessment, three types of stimuli were identified: (a) high-preference stimuli associated with high rates of SIB (HP/HS), (b) high-preference stimuli associated with relatively lower rates of SIB (HP/LS), and (c)low-preference stimuli associated with low rates of SIB (LP/LS). Consistent with the results of the preference assessment, the DRO schedule with HP/HS stimuli resulted in increased SIB, and the DRO schedule with LP/LS stimuli resulted in no change in SIB when used in a DRO schedule. Thus, the stimulus preference assessment may be useful clinically in some situations for predicting both the beneficial and the negative side effects of stimuli in DRO procedures.
Piazza
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Neurobehavioral Unit, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA.
Fisher
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Hanley
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Hilker
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Derby
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D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome