Peck, S. M., Wacker, D. P., Berg, W. K., Cooper, L. J., Brown, K. A., Richman, D., McComas, J. J., Frischmeyer, P., & Millard, T. (1996).
Choice-making treatment of young children's severe behavior problems.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
29, 263-290.
The choice-making behavior of 5 young children with developmental
disabilities who engaged in aberrant behavior was studied within
a concurrent operants framework. Experimental analyses were
conducted to identify reinforcers that maintained aberrant
behavior, and functional communication training packages were
implemented to teach the participants to gain reinforcement using
mands. Next, a choice-making analysis, in which the participants
chose one of two responses (either a mand or an alternative
neutral response) to obtain different durations and qualities of
reinforcement, was conducted. Finally, treatment packages
involving choice making via manding were implemented to decrease
inappropriate behavior and to increase mands. The results
extended previous applications of choice making to severe
behavior disorders and across behaviors maintained by positive
and negative reinforcement.
DESCRIPTORS: aberrant behavior, choice making, functional
communication training, functional analysis, developmentally
disabled children, behavioral pediatrics