Antecedent Manipulations in a Tangible Condition: Effects of Stimulus Preference on Aggression

Abstract

After a functional analysis indicated that aggression of an 8-year-old boy with autism was maintained by access to preferred items, antecedent manipulations involving the relative preference of restricted and noncontingently available stimuli were conducted. Restricting highly preferred items evoked the highest rates of aggression regardless of the preference level of the noncontingently available alternative items. Restricting less preferred stimuli was associated with moderate rates of aggression even when the alternative items were more preferred.

The Influence of Therapist Attention on Self‐injury During a Tangible Condition

“…Many procedural variations of the tangi- ble condition have been described in the literature (e.g., Fisher et al, 1993;Mueller et al, 2001). Future research on procedural aspects of this condition would be instructive.…”

“…The alone condition was omitted at the request of the school. Procedures used during the tangible condition were analogous to those described by Mueller, Wilczynski, Moore, Fusilier, and Trahant (2001). A highly preferred stimulus (juice) was presented prior to the session.…”

Evidence-Based Treatment of Behavioral Excesses and Deficits for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders

“…These conditions, social positive reinforcement (attention), social negative reinforcement (escape), automatic reinforcement (alone), and control, appear as they were described above. In addition, a "tangible" condition has been applied in a number of studies (Asmus et al 2002;Fisher et al 2000;Moore et al 2002;Mueller et al 2001;Shirley et al 1999). In this condition, the individual is typically given access to a highly preferred item for 1 min at which point the experimenter removes the item and places it out of reach (Mueller et al 2001).…”

“…In addition, a "tangible" condition has been applied in a number of studies (Asmus et al 2002;Fisher et al 2000;Moore et al 2002;Mueller et al 2001;Shirley et al 1999). In this condition, the individual is typically given access to a highly preferred item for 1 min at which point the experimenter removes the item and places it out of reach (Mueller et al 2001). The participant is told that the target item is unavailable and directed toward low-preference items.…”

Modifications to basic functional analysis procedures in school settings: a selective review

“…In the FA by Mueller et al (2001), a tangible condition was implemented instead of an alone condition. The student participant had 1 min access to a highly preferred book that was removed at the onset of the session, when the experimenter offered stuffed animals as alternatives.…”