Applied behavior analysis: an introduction to reductive procedures

1. Applied behavior analysis: an introduction to reductive procedures Laraway Youth and Family Services Sara Russell, M.Ed. & Alexis Webb, M.S. August 15, 2014

2. Goals for today • Become familiar with the history and definition of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). • Understand the definition of reductive procedures. • Understand the concept of punishment within the field of ABA. • Gain a better understanding of common reductive procedures; such as Response Cost, Time-Out and Planned Ignoring. • Understand the difference between punishment and extinction. • Understand the relationship between extinction and reductive procedures.

3. History of aba • ABA comes from the field of Psychology. • 1913: JB Watson – Applied stimulus-response theory to people • 1927: Ivan Pavlov - Classical conditioning as a teaching method, worked with dogs • 1928: BF Skinner – Continued study of human behavior • 1958: “The Psychiatric Nurse as a Behavioral Engineer”- Allyon and Micheal – An early published application of behavioral principles to the improvement in patients’ behavior • 1960s: Baer, Wolf, and Risley applied this science to real world settings, thus developing ABA - "Some current dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis" – 1968 Baer, Wolf and Risley • Since then, there has been over 40 years of published work documenting the effectiveness of procedures based on ABA across various populations.

5. So….. What is ABA? • A science devoted to the understanding and improvement of human behavior. (Cooper et al., 2007) • Focuses on objectively defined, observable behaviors of social significance. • Is not a treatment, but a science which supports the application of evidence based procedures.

6. Based on the search for a Functional Relationship (FR). • When a procedure is implemented and the behavior changes in an expected way, you have demonstrated a FR. -Treatment is directly linked to the function of the behavior. • ABA is based on identifying, testing, and changing FRs. -Involves continual analysis to determine effectiveness of the treatment.

7. Applied – real world significance • Behavior – observable actions • Analysis – evaluation between behavior and environment

9. Reductive procedures • Within the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), reductive procedures are defined as any procedure that reduces the rate of a behavior. • Reductive procedures in ABA is synonymous with punishment.

10. punishment Any consequence to a behavior that decreases the likelihood that the behavior will occur in the future.

11. Positive vs. negative punishment • Positive Punishment • When something is added to the environment. • Example: You wear your favorite baseball cap to class, but are reprimanded by your instructor for violating your school's dress code. • Negative Punishment • When something is removed or avoided in the environment. • Example: A third-grade boy yells at another student during class, so his teacher takes away "good behavior” tokens that can be redeemed for prizes.

12. Don’t get stuck in the common perception of punishment. We simply use the term to describe the reduction of behavior and not the use of aversive techniques with kids.

14. Response cost procedure • “A form of [negative] punishment in which the loss of a specific amount of reinforcement occurs, contingent on an inappropriate behavior, and results in the decreased probability of the future occurrence of the behavior.” (Cooper et al., 2007) • Simply put, a response cost involves the removal of a previously earned/available reinforcer(e.g., tokens, free time, $$, recess) to reduce a behavior. • Example: Johnny loses 5 tokens for every time he swears.

15. Time-out procedure • “The withdrawal of the opportunity to earn positive reinforcement or the loss of access to positive reinforcers for a specified time, contingent on the occurrence of a behavior.” (Cooper et al., 2007) • There are two types of Time-Out: • Exclusionary • Non-Exclusionary

16. Types of time-out procedures • Exclusionary Time-Out • A person is removed from the environment. • Access to reinforcement is lost during this time. • Examples: Partition Time-Out, Hallway Time-Out, Time-Out Room.

17. Non-Exclusionary Time-Out • A person is not completely removed physically from the environment. • Access to reinforcement is still lost during this time. • Examples: Planned ignoring, withdrawal of a specific positive reinforcer (toy), contingent observation, Time-Out ribbon. Video

18. Time-out: video

19. Planned ignoring procedure • “Occurs when social reinforcers-usually attention, physical contact, or verbal interaction- are removed for a brief period contingent on the occurrence of an inappropriate behavior.” (Cooper et al., 2007) • The social reinforcer must truly be reinforcing to the individual for this procedure to be effective. • Planned ignoring is a type of non-exclusionary Time-Out.

21. Planned ignoring vs. extinction • Planned ignoring: • Involves a set period of time • Is the removal of a social reinforcer • Is an event/consequence • Is a punishment procedure • Extinction: • Is not the removal of a reinforcer; instead, it is the constant absence of reinforcement • Is a “non event.” You didn’t add or take away anything • Is not punishment

22. So, What is extinction? Result that occurs when the reinforcement or escape contingency for a previously reinforced response is stopped, causing the response to decrease. (Malott, 2008)

23. Factors that influence extinction • Knowing the function of the behavior • Size of the Reinforcer • Greater the size, the longer it takes. • Delay of the Reinforcer • If you occasionally delay the reinforcer, the response will take longer to extinguish. • Partial Reinforcement Schedules • Intermittent reinforcement schedules take longer to extinguish (e.g., slot machine)

24. The relationship between Extinction and reductive procedures • At times, it is important to use extinction in conjunction with reductive procedures. • Example: A student displays property destruction behavior to escape academic tasks. The behavior of property destruction will be put on extinction by never allowing the student to escape the work (e.g., always having academic materials readily available). To support this, a response cost procedure could also be implemented (e.g., “fining” the student 1 minute of recess for every instance of property destruction).

25. On the other hand, extinction is not always paired with a reductive procedure. • Example: A student begins to publicly swear inside the classroom in hopes of receiving attention from others. The student is instructed to take an exclusionary Time-Out in the hallway. The behavior of publicly swearing is being reduced through the use of a Time-Out procedure, but is not being put on extinction as they received attention for their behavior by being asked to leave the classroom as well as attention they may receive while standing in the hallway.

26. Challenges with extinction • Consistently withholding reinforcement for the problem behavior across people and settings. • Working through the extinction burst.

27. Extinction burst Initial increases in the response frequency, magnitude, or intensity of a behavior. • The Misconception: If you stop engaging in a “bad” habit, the habit will gradually diminish until it disappears from your life. • The Truth: Any time you quit something “cold turkey,” your brain will make a last-ditch effort to return you to your habit.

29. In closing… • It is important to realize that reductive procedures are only a small part of the behavior intervention work you will do with students. • Behavior support plans should be largely focused on positive reinforcement strategies and procedures. • A significant aspect of behavior intervention is teaching and supporting replacement behaviors. This is not something that occurs when solely using reductive procedures.

31. The End! Questions??

32. references • Cooper, J.O., Heron, T.E. & Heward, W.L. (2007). Applied Behavior Analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River: New Jersey. • Malott, R.W. (2008). Principles of Behavior (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River: New Jersey. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP-VFEun7Dw.