Problem behavior is common in early childhood special education classrooms. Functional communication training (FCT; Carr & Durand, 1985) may reduce problem behavior but requires identification of its function. The trial-based functional analysis (FA) is a method that can be used to identify problem behavior function in schools. We conducted…

We examined the effectiveness and efficiency of 2 instructional arrangements using progressive prompt delay (PPD) with 3 young children with autism and 1 child with developmental delays. Specifically, we compared PPD with instructive feedback (IF) to PPD without IF in an adapted alternating treatment design. The results suggested that (a) children…

Three participants whose problem behavior was maintained by contingent attention were exposed to 45-min presessions in which attention was withheld, provided on a fixed-time (FT) 15-s schedule, or provided on an FT 120-s schedule. Following each presession, participants were then tested in a 15-min session similar to the social attention condition…

Functional analyses that were conducted in two settings (playground and classroom) indicated that problem behavior was sensitive to adult attention on the playground and tangible items in the classroom. Attention- and tangible-based interventions were designed based on the results from each of the assessment environments and were compared. The…

This study compared the outcomes of three descriptive analysis methods--the ABC method, the conditional probability method, and the conditional and background probability method--to each other and to the results obtained from functional analyses. Six individuals who had been diagnosed with developmental delays and exhibited problem behavior…

Preference for mand topography was evaluated for 2 individuals with developmental disabilities who exhibited problem behavior. The results of a functional analysis showed that each participant's problem behavior was maintained by social reinforcement. Participants were taught two novel mand topographies for the same functional reinforcer, and each…

A study of three children (ages 2-3) with developmental delays used functional analyses and concurrent-schedule assessments to identify the behavioral functions of problem behavior that occurred in the presence of multiple maintaining stimuli. The assessments identified preference between reinforcers, and successful treatments were based on these…

This study of five young children with developmental delays or chronic health problems and with aberrant behaviors identified reinforcers that maintained aberrant behavior, used functional communication training to teach participants to gain reinforcement using mands, and implemented treatment involving choice making via manding. (JDD)

A six-year old with developmental delays who exhibited aggression when asked to pick up his toys was studied to determine the effects of interventions. Treatment included praise, a break, and access to the toys contingent on compliance. Results showed aggression decreased only with social interaction during the break. (Author/CR)