title: Comparisons of synthesized and individual reinforcement contingencies during functional analysis.
abstract: Researchers typically modify individual functional analysis (FA) conditions after results are inconclusive (Hanley, Iwata, & McCord, 2003). Hanley, Jin, Vanselow, and Hanratty (2014) introduced a marked departure from this practice, using an interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis (IISCA). In the test condition, they delivered multiple contingencies simultaneously (e.g., attention and escape) after each occurrence of problem behavior; in the control condition, they delivered those same reinforcers noncontingently and continuously. In the current investigation, we compared the results of the IISCA with a more traditional FA in which we evaluated each putative reinforcer individually. Four of 5 participants displayed destructive behavior that was sensitive to the individual contingencies evaluated in the traditional FA. By contrast, none of the participants showed a response pattern consistent with the assumption of the IISCA. We discuss the implications of these findings on the development of accurate and efficient functional analyses.
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: Brian D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Greer
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Patrick W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Romani
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Amanda N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Zangrillo
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute.
authors.forename: Todd M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Owen
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000523:psychology*; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D010988:Play and Playthings; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology
keywords: assessment of problem behavior; false-positive outcome; functional analysis; independent effects; interaction effects