title: Individual and combined effects of noncontingent reinforcement and response blocking on automatically reinforced problem behavior.
abstract: Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) and response blocking are 2 common interventions for problem behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement. We implemented NCR and blocking with 1 boy and found this combined intervention to be effective at decreasing high rates of automatically reinforced pica. With another child, we compared the effects of blocking alone to the combined intervention. With the third child, we compared NCR alone and blocking alone to the combined intervention. Results showed that the combined intervention was effective at reducing automatically reinforced problem behavior while moderate to high levels of item engagement maintained. When evaluated individually, neither NCR nor blocking was sufficient to reduce problem behavior to clinically significant levels.
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. brian.greer@unmc.edu.
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
authors.affiliation: University Of Nebraska Medical Center'S Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Katherine R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Lichtblau
authors.affiliation: University Of Nebraska Medical Center'S Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Andresa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: DeSouza
authors.affiliation: University Of Nebraska Medical Center'S Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mitteer
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: automatic reinforcement; noncontingent reinforcement; problem behavior; response blocking