Poster Session: 12. Individual and Combined Effects of Noncontingent Reinforcement and Response Blocking on Problem Behavior Maintained by Automatic Reinforcement

Research output: Contribution to conferencePresentation

Abstract

VALDEEP SAINI (University of Nebraska Medical Center), Brian D. Greer (University of Nebraska Medical Center), Wayne W. Fisher (Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center), Katie Lichtblau (University of Nebraska Medical Center), Andresa A. De Souza (University of Nebraska Medical Center), Daniel R. Mitteer (Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center) Two common interventions for problem behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement are noncontingent reinforcement and response blocking. Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) typically involves the delivery of stimuli shown to compete with the automatic reinforcer for problem behavior. Response blocking involves the therapist physically preventing the completion of the target response. We implemented NCR with response blocking for one boy's automatically maintained pica and found this combined intervention to be effective at decreasing high rates of pica. With another child, we compared the effects of response blocking alone to the combined intervention. With the final child, we compared NCR alone and response blocking alone to the combined intervention. Results showed that the combined intervention consistently proved effective at reducing problem behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement while maintaining moderate to high levels of item engagement. When evaluated individually, neither NCR nor response blocking proved sufficient to reduce problem behavior to clinically significant levels.
Original languageAmerican English
StatePublished - Jan 18 2016
Event10th Annual Autism Conference - New Orleans, LA
Duration: Jan 18 2016 → …

Conference

Conference10th Annual Autism Conference
Period1/18/16 → …

Keywords

  • ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder

Disciplines

  • Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Psychology

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