Further evaluation of differential exposure to establishing operations during functional communication training. Issue 2 (7th March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fisher, Wayne W.; Greer, Brian D.; Mitteer, Daniel R.; Fuhrman, Ashley M.; Romani, Patrick W.; Zangrillo, Amanda N.
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied behavior analysis. Volume 51:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 373
• Publication Date: 2018-03-07
• Subjects: differential reinforcement -- establishing operation -- extinction -- extinction burst -- functional analysis -- functional communication training; Psychology, Applied -- Periodicals; Social Behavior -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1002/jaba.451
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8855

Abstract

Abstract : Recent research findings (DeRosa, Fisher, & Steege, 2015 ) suggest that minimizing exposure to the establishing operation (EO) for destructive behavior when differential reinforcement interventions like functional communication training (FCT) are introduced may produce more immediate reductions in destructive behavior and prevent or mitigate extinction bursts. We directly tested this hypothesis by introducing FCT with extinction in two conditions, one with limited exposure to the EO (limited EO) and one with more extended exposure to the EO (extended EO) using a combined reversal and multielement design. Results showed that the limited‐EO condition rapidly reduced destructive behavior to low levels during every application, whereas the extended‐EO condition produced an extinction burst in five of six applications. We discuss these findings in relation to the effects of EO exposure on the beneficial and untoward effects of differential reinforcement interventions.