Some effects of noncontingent positive reinforcement on multiply controlled problem behavior and compliance in a demand context

J Appl Behav Anal. 2008 Fall;41(3):435-40. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2008.41-435.

Abstract

Functional analysis suggested that the problem behavior of an 8-year-old girl with autism was maintained by escape from demands and access to edible items. Noncontingent delivery of an edible item was sufficient to increase compliance and reduce the rate of problem behavior without the use of escape extinction in a demand context. Leaner and richer schedules of noncontingent reinforcement were equally effective, and there were minimal differences between noncontingent reinforcement and differential reinforcement of compliance.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Escape Reaction*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Observer Variation
  • Reinforcement, Psychology*
  • Self-Injurious Behavior / psychology*
  • Social Behavior*
  • Social Environment*