The Effect of Various Reinforcement Schedules on the Persistence of Compliance

描述（由申请人提供）：负强化（即逃避或回避指令）已被确定为负责维持发育障碍个体所表现出的破坏性行为的主要变量之一。已经开发了几种治疗方法来减少由负强化维持的破坏性行为。这些治疗方案都是相似的，因为负责维持破坏性行为的反应强化关系被破坏了（即，灭绝已经到位）。然而，它们在强化物如何被编程以交付方面有所不同。逃逸灭绝不编程强化传递。非偶然增援或非偶然逃生（NCE）规定了按时间安排交付的中断。不管个人的行为如何，都会给予休息。其他行为的差异负强化（DNRO）规定了在没有破坏性行为的情况下，在预先规定的时间内，强化物的传递。另外，选择性行为/顺从的差异负强化（DNRA-C）规定了在没有破坏性行为的情况下，强化物的传递取决于对指令的服从。这些治疗方法中的每一种都与依从性的增加有关，即使这种行为并不总是以改变为目标。出现的一个问题是，当干预以依从性为目标时（DNRA-C）发生的依从性增加是否比不以干预为目标时（即NCE和DNRO）发生的依从性更持久（即持续时间更长）。本研究的目的是评估每一种治疗方法的依从性。结果将对如何最好地设计治疗发育障碍患者所表现出的破坏性行为的治疗方法产生影响，这些行为可能对治疗挑战更持久（即，执行不力或短时间内没有治疗）。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Negative reinforcement (i.e., escape from or avoidance of instructions) has been identified as one of the leading variables responsible for the maintenance of destructive behavior exhibited by individuals with developmental disabilities. Several treatments have been developed to reduce destructive behavior maintained by negative reinforcement. These treatment programs are all similar in that the response-reinforcer relationship responsible for maintaining destructive behavior is disrupted (i.e., extinction is in place). However, they differ with respect to how reinforcers are programmed for delivery. Escape extinction does not program reinforcement delivery. Noncontingent reinforcement, or noncontingent escape (NCE) specifies the delivery of breaks on a time-based schedule. The breaks are delivered regardless of the individual's behavior. Differential negative reinforcement of other behavior (DNRO) specifies the delivery of reinforcers contingent on pre-specified time periods in the absence of destructive behavior. And, differential negative reinforcement of alternative behavior/compliance (DNRA-C) specifies the delivery of reinforcers contingent on compliance with instruction in the absence of destructive behavior. Each of these approaches to treatment has been associated with increases in compliance, even though this behavior is not always targeted for change. One question that arises is whether the increase in compliance that occurs when compliance is targeted by the intervention (DNRA-C) is more durable (i.e., persists longer) than compliance that occurs when compliance is not targeted by the intervention (i.e., NCE and DNRO). The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the persistence of compliance following each of these treatment approaches. Results will have implication for how to best design treatments for destructive behavior that exhibited by individuals with developmental disabilities that may be more durable to treatment challenges (i.e., poor implementation or brief periods of time without treatment in place). PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed research is relevant to the treatment of severe challenging behavior exhibited by individuals with developmental disabilities. It will provide information on how to design treatments that are resilient and have lasting impact.