Topographies and functions of emerging problem behavior and appropriate requests in neurotypical preschoolers

Fahmie, Tara A.; Garcia, Amanda R.; Poetry, Jasmine H.; Tierman, Emily M.; Hamawe, Rima; Marks, Sarah; Jin, Sandy

doi:10.1002/jaba.741

Cited by 11 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(58 reference statements)

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“…Specifically, individuals previously diagnosed with certain autistic subtypes (e.g., Asperger disorder and Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified) now hold the sole diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (Wiggins et al, 2019). Finally, the trend toward assessment of behavior exhibited by younger children may also be reflective of the increased attention to lower severity behavior and the accompanying development of a model for preventing the onset of severe behavior (e.g., Fahmie et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional analysis of problem behavior: A 40‐year review

Melanson

Fahmie

2023

J of App Behav Analysis

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Extensive reviews of functional analysis literature were conducted 10 (Beavers et al., 2013) and 20 (Hanley et al., 2003) years ago; we expanded this review to capture the vast and innovative functional analysis research that has occurred over the past decade. Our review produced 1,333 functional analysis outcomes from 326 studies on the functional analysis of problem behavior between June 2012 and May 2022. Some characteristics of functional analysis studies were similar across the current and previous two reviews (e.g., child participants, developmental disability diagnosis, use of line graphs depicting session means, differentiated response outcomes). Other characteristics deviated from the previous two reviews (e.g., increase in autistic representation, outpatient settings, use of supplementary assessments, the inclusion of tangible conditions, and multiple function outcomes; decrease in session durations). We update previously reported participant and methodological characteristics, summarize outcomes, comment on recent trends, and propose future directions in the functional analysis literature.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional analysis of problem behavior: A 40‐year review

Melanson

Fahmie

2023

J of App Behav Analysis

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“…However, applying the matching law to more extended assessments of sociability quantifies the degree to which an individual is social, indifferent, or avoidant, makes precise predictions about how participants' responding will change given a change in the availability of social interaction, and may uncover factors underlying (e.g., latency of, and differentiation in, switching) or influencing (e.g., bias) social time allocation. Given these benefits, such an assessment could be useful as an outcome measure of more molar interventions or experiences (e.g., behavior-analytic services, preschool), longitudinal assessments of sociability in a manner similar to general-skills assessments (e.g., Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP); Sundberg, 2014), or functional analyses of appropriate and problem behavior (e.g., Fahmie et al, 2020). An interesting direction for future research would be to evaluate the utility of the results of assessments of sociability as prognostic or predictive behavioral markers (Hagopian et al, 2018).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The matching law provides a quantitative description of social time allocation in children with autism

Morris

Vollmer

2022

J of App Behav Analysis

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Recent research has developed and evaluated assessments of sociability in which time allocation near or away from an adult who initiates social interactions is used to characterize the participant as social, indifferent, or avoidant of social interaction. Though these qualitative outcomes have been useful, no studies have evaluated methods of obtaining more quantitative measures of sociability. The matching law has been demonstrated to describe a wide range of human behavior and may also be useful in describing social time allocation. We adapted the matching law and assessment of sociability procedures with the aim of providing a more precise, quantitative measure of sociability. We fitted the matching equation to the social time allocation data of 8 children with autism spectrum disorder. The equation was effective in quantifying sociability, accounted for a large proportion of variance in participants' behavior, did so equally well for participants who were social and avoidant, and provided a more sensitive measure relative to those used in previous research. The implications of this methodology, its potential utility, and directions for future research are discussed.

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“…Note the distinction between measuring the ES of behavior vs. measuring severity over time (e.g., Fahmie et al, 2020 ; Iwata et al, 1990 ; Sansone & Sansone, 2010 ). For example, our plan would not be likely to have social validity, i.e., acceptability, if it reduced tantrums from an average of four times a day, for a total of 60 min of tantrums a day, with an average ES level of 15-min duration per episode, to a rate of one time a day, for an average duration total of 30 min per episode.…”

Section: Applied Behavior Analysis (Aba)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Needed independent and dependent variables in multi-element behavior support plans addressing severe behavior problems

LaVigna¹,

Hughes²,

Potter³

et al. 2022

Perspect Behav Sci

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Ethically , behavior analysts are required to use the least aversive and restrictive procedures capable of managing behaviors of concern. This article introduces and discusses a multi-element paradigm for devising support plans that include ecological, positive programming, and focused-support proactive strategies for reducing the frequency of problem behavior occurrence. It also includes reactive strategies, i.e., separate independent variables. In this paradigm, reactive strategies are aimed solely at getting rapid, safe control over the incident, thereby reducing measured and quantified episodic severity. Behavior analysts who publish in mainstream behavioral journals do not always make it explicit how they, in fact, successfully employed non-aversive reactive procedures to achieve rapid/safe control over the severity of a behavioral incident. Three examples of published studies in the behavioral literature which successfully, though only implicitly, used non-aversive reactive strategies (NARS) to reduce the severity of the behaviors of concern are described. The multi-element paradigm discussed in the present article is illustrated by the support plans that address the challenging behavior of three children in a pre-school setting, using both proactive and reactive strategies. Reactive strategies were used for the purpose of reducing episodic severity (ES) and proactive strategies were aimed at reducing the frequency of occurrence. Following a comprehensive functional analysis and assessment (CFA) and the implementation of a multi-element behavior support (MEBS) plan, results show successful outcomes without the need for any aversive or restrictive procedures. When addressing severe behaviors of concern, in addition to reducing behavioral occurrence, safety should also be improved by reducing ES as a measured outcome and as a function of the reactive strategies employed, including in many cases, the use of strategic capitulation, i.e., providing the identified reinforcer for the target behavior.

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Topographies and functions of emerging problem behavior and appropriate requests in neurotypical preschoolers

Cited by 11 publications

References 38 publications

Functional analysis of problem behavior: A 40‐year review

Functional analysis of problem behavior: A 40‐year review

The matching law provides a quantitative description of social time allocation in children with autism

Needed independent and dependent variables in multi-element behavior support plans addressing severe behavior problems

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