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Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis logoLink to Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
. 1990 Winter;23(4):417–429. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1990.23-417

A component analysis of functional communication training across three topographies of severe behavior problems.

D P Wacker 1, M W Steege 1, J Northup 1, G Sasso 1, W Berg 1, T Reimers 1, L Cooper 1, K Cigrand 1, L Donn 1
PMCID: PMC1286258  PMID: 2150069

Abstract

We evaluated the separate treatment components of a functional communication training program for 3 severely handicapped persons who each displayed different topographies of aberrant behavior. Following a functional analysis of maintaining conditions for inappropriate behavior (self-injury, stereotypy, aggression), each participant was trained to emit a communicative response that functioned to solicit reinforcement. For 2 participants, consequences (time-out or graduated guidance) for inappropriate behavior were also included. Treatment continued until the participants emitted the communicative response independently and no occurrences of inappropriate behavior were observed for at least two sessions. Following treatment, the separate contributions of the treatment components for communicative responding and for inappropriate behavior were evaluated with a reversal design. The results indicated that both sets of treatment components were necessary for maximal control over aberrant behavior. These results are discussed in relation to the efficiency, history, and control over reinforcement of both appropriate and inappropriate responses.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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