title: Relations between rate of negative reinforcement and the persistence of task completion.
abstract: Research has shown that differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) can be an effective intervention to address problem behavior maintained by negative reinforcement emitted by young children. However, few studies have evaluated the variables that are related to long-term maintenance (i.e., persistence) of treatment effects. Research on behavioral persistence predicts that the rate of reinforcement provided for a target behavior is correlated with its persistence when challenged. There were 2 purposes of the current investigation. First, we evaluated the effects of the rate of negative reinforcement on the persistence of task completion. Second, we applied the findings regarding rate of reinforcement to a treatment context for 3 participants who engaged in destructive behavior that was reinforced by escape from demands. Results were evaluated within a multielement design and indicated that the rate of negative reinforcement had a moderate influence on the persistence of task completion. These results contribute to the existing literature by extending analyses of persistence to treatment contexts.
authors.affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.affiliation: SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY AT CARBONDALE.
authors.forename: Joel E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ringdahl
authors.affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Wacker
authors.affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
authors.forename: Nicole H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Lustig
authors.affiliation: PLAINFIELD SCHOOL DISTRICT.
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Vinquist
authors.affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Northup
authors.affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
authors.forename: Alexandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Kane
authors.affiliation: UNIVERSITY OF IOWA.
authors.forename: Deva P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Carrion
mesh_terms: D000374:Aggression / Q000502:physiology; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: behavioral persistence; maintenance; negative reinforcement