Effects of Reinforcer and Extinction Factors on Response Strength of Behavior

项目总结/摘要 功能性沟通训练（FCT）是最广泛使用的治疗方法，以解决 发育障碍者表现出的问题行为。这项战略 在许多已发表的研究中证明有效。然而，很少有研究表明， 确定可能影响适当沟通行为持续性的治疗成分， 当FCT的实施受到挑战时，问题行为复发。有可能数量和类型 在干预过程中为沟通行为提供的强化，以及 交往行为和问题行为在干预过程中遭遇消退可能会影响 当治疗完整性受到挑战时维持治疗收益（例如，治疗不实施， 设计）。我们之前对FCT维护的研究已经得出了几个发现，其中两个是 与当前项目特别相关。第一，响应变量，如对通信的偏好 策略可以影响交际行为的持续性。第二，当FCT面临灭绝的挑战时， 问题行为经常（虽然不总是）重新出现。增强相关变量已被 在基本的行为动量理论文献和 关于问题行为持续性的应用文献。人们不太了解的是， 强化相关变量影响在治疗背景下教授的适当行为， 临床相关问题。同样地，先前被熄灭的行为的复发已经被证明 出现在基础和应用文献中。强化相关的变量已经被牵连的水平， 在这些研究中观察到的复发。关于灭绝在替代过程中的作用， 强化计划（如FCT）在促进或减轻适当反应的持续性方面发挥作用 和问题行为的复发。在临床上，重要的是我们设计的治疗方法不仅会导致 减少问题行为和发展适当的战略，以获得奖学金，但 也产生适当的行为，在面对治疗挑战时具有弹性，并限制复发。 在这些挑战中的表现。拟议的研究将提供更多关于如何 为沟通策略编程强化，使这些反应在 FCT受到挑战，并将开始阐明消退在FCT治疗维持中的作用 因此，可以设计治疗方案，以尽量减少复发。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Functional Communication Training (FCT) is the most widely used treatment approach to address problem behavior exhibited by individuals with developmental disabilities. This strategy has been demonstrated to be effective in numerous published studies. However, little research has been conducted to identify treatment components that may influence the persistence of appropriate communicative behavior and relapse of problem behavior when implementation of FCT is challenged. It is possible that the amount and type of reinforcement provided for communicative behavior during intervention and the frequency with which the communicative behavior and problem behavior encounter extinction during intervention may impact the maintenance of treatment gains when treatment integrity is challenged (e.g., treatment is not implemented as designed). Our previous research on FCT maintenance has yielded several findings, two of which are particularly relevant to the current project. First, response variables such as preference for communication strategy can affect the persistence of communicative behavior. Second, when FCT is challenged with extinction, problem behavior often, though not always, re-emerges. Reinforcement related variables have been demonstrated to impact response persistence in the basic behavioral momentum theory literature and in the applied literature with respect to the persistence of problem behavior. What is less well understood is how reinforcement related variables impact appropriate behavior taught in the context of treatment to address clinically relevant concerns. Similarly, the relapse of previously extinguished behavior has been demonstrated to occur in the basic and applied literature. Reinforcement related variables have been implicated in the level of relapse observed in these studies. Less is known regarding the role of extinction during alternative reinforcement schedules (such as FCT) plays in promoting or mitigating persistence of appropriate responses and relapse of problem behavior. Clinically, it is important that we design treatments that not only result in the reduction of problem behavior and the development of appropriate strategies to obtain reinforcers, but that also produce appropriate behavior that is resilient in the face of challenges to treatment and limit the relapse of problem behavior during those challenges. The proposed studies will provide more information regarding how to program reinforcement for communication strategies such that those responses will persist longest when FCT is challenged, and will begin to clarify the role extinction plays in the maintenance of FCT treatment effects so that treatment can be designed to minimize relapse.