Maintaining Reductions in Challenging Behavior Following Reinforcement-Based Intervention with Schedule Thinning and Delay-to-Reinforcement

Emily Gregori, Purdue University

Abstract

Individuals with developmental disabilities often engage in challenging behavior. Reinforcement-based behavioral interventions are the most common treatment for such behaviors. During the initial stages of implementation, reinforcement is delivered at a high intensity, to weaken the relation between challenging behavior and reinforcement. Although this is a critical component in the reduction of challenging behavior, these dense schedules of reinforcement are not feasible in most applied settings. To address these issues, schedule thinning and delay-to-reinforcement are often added post-treatment as a systematic method to reduce the intensity of reinforcement while maintaining low levels of challenging behavior. Despite professional recommendations to incorporate schedule thinning and delay-toreinforcement post-treatment, limited research has examined the efficacy of these procedures. Thus, the current dissertation conducted two evaluations of schedule thinning and delay-toreinforcement following reinforcement-based intervention. Study 1 synthesized the existing literature on the use of schedule thinning following reinforcement-based intervention and evaluated the effects of schedule thinning using a new set of evidence standards. Study 2 evaluated a novel method for preventing the resurgence of challenging behavior following reinforcement-based intervention that involved incorporating activity choice into a delay-toreinforcement procedure. Results of study 1 showed that schedule thinning is an effective method for maintaining reductions in challenging behavior following a variety of reinforcement-based interventions. Study 2 demonstrated positive effects for embedding activity choice into delays-to-reinforcement. Across all participants, levels of challenging behavior remained low during the activity choice condition. Taken together, these findings provide additional support for the efficacy of schedule thinning and delay-to-reinforcement. Major findings, limitations, and implications for practice for each study are discussed.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Rispoli, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Design|Communication|Behavioral psychology|Disability studies|Individual & family studies|Mental health|Psychology

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