Effects of extinction alone and extinction plus functional communication training on covariation of problem behaviors.

Shukla, S., & Albin, R. W. (1996). Effects of extinction alone and extinction plus functional communication training on covariation of problem behaviors. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 565-568.

In this investigation, extinction (EXT) was applied alone or in combination with functional communication training (FCT) to less severe topographies of problem behavior while more severe topographies continued to be reinforced. EXT alone decreased less severe and increased more severe topographies of problem behavior (i.e., response covariation), whereas EXT with FCT reduced all topographies of problem behavior to near-zero levels.

DESCRIPTORS: response covariation, extinction, functional communication training, severe disabilities