Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (ID) present with problem behaviour at rates disproportionately higher than their typically-developing peers. Problem behaviour, such as self-injury, aggression, pica, disruption, and elopement result in a diminished quality-of-life for the individual and family. Applied behaviour analysis has a well-established research base, detailing a number of assessment and treatment methods designed to address behaviour problems in children with ASD and ID. Although the variables that lead to the emergence of problem behaviour are not precisely known, those that are currently responsible for the maintenance of these problems can be identified via functional behaviour assessment, which is designed to identify events that occasion problem behaviour, consequences that maintain it, as well as other environmental factors that exert influence on the behaviour. Corresponding function-based treatment is implemented when environmental determinants are identified, with the aim of decreasing or eliminating problem behaviour, as well as teaching the individual to engage in more appropriate, alternative behaviour. In some cases, when problem behaviour is under the control of both environmental and biological variables, including psychiatric conditions, combining behavioural and pharmacological interventions is viewed as optimal, although there is limited empirical support for integrating these approaches.

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Contingent positive reinforcement has proven more effective in treating escape-maintained problem behavior than contingent negative reinforcement, particularly when problem behavior continues to produce escape. However, this research has overwhelmingly used distributed-reinforcement arrangements, where tasks and reinforcer access are interspersed throughout the work period. An alternative to interspersal involves allowing the individual to accumulate and then receive a larger quantity of reinforcement once work requirements are completed; this is known as an accumulatedreinforcement arrangement. The current study examined the efficacy of, and preference for positive (food) and negative (break) reinforcement contingencies delivered in accumulated and distributed arrangements in the treatment of escape-maintained problem behavior. In Experiment 1, accumulated break was preferred for 4 of 5 participants and accumulated food was preferred for 3 of 5. In Experiment 2, accumulated break was similarly effective to distributed break for 3 of 5 participants and accumulated and distributed food were equally effective for 4 participants.

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Within the field of behavior analysis, turnover can impact an organization adversely due to the loss of expertise and the required replacement expenses. Turnover in behavior analysis remains poorly understood, and few investigations have studied why employees separate and how to mitigate unwanted turnover. The purpose of this discussion article is to provide an account of turnover, as well as to make recommendations to behavior-analytic service providers regarding how to perform analyses and intervene to decrease employee turnover.

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Aggression maintained by access to physical attention was examined using two preparations of a functional analysis, after which additional assessment was carried out to identify stimuli that competed with problem behavior. The participant, Ted, was a 13-year-old boy diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, who attended a private specialized education facility because of underdeveloped communication skills and problem behavior. At the time of the study, his aggression had become more prevalent, unpredictable, and elevated in intensity. Following assessment, a noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) intervention using competing stimuli was implemented to reduce rates of Ted's increasingly unmanageable aggression. Results indicated that implementation of the NCR intervention was followed by decreased rates, more predictable patterns, and diminished intensity of aggressive behavior.

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