title: Clarifying inconclusive functional analysis results: Assessment and treatment of automatically reinforced aggression.
abstract: We conducted a series of studies in which multiple strategies were used to clarify the inconclusive results of one boy's functional analysis of aggression. Specifically, we (a) evaluated individual response topographies to determine the composition of aggregated response rates, (b) conducted a separate functional analysis of aggression after high rates of disruption masked the consequences that maintained aggression during the initial functional analysis, (c) modified the experimental design used during the functional analysis of aggression to improve discrimination and decrease interaction effects between conditions, and (d) evaluated a treatment matched to the reinforcer hypothesized to maintain aggression. An effective yet practical intervention for aggression was developed based on the results of these analyses and from data collected during the matched-treatment evaluation.
authors.affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER'S MUNROE-MEYER INSTITUTE.
authors.forename: Valdeep
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saini
authors.affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER'S MUNROE-MEYER INSTITUTE.
authors.forename: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA MEDICAL CENTER'S MUNROE-MEYER INSTITUTE.
authors.forename: Wayne W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: aggression; automatic reinforcement; competing stimuli; functional analysis; sensory extinction