Kahng, S., Iwata, B. A., DeLeon, I. G., & Worsdell, A. S. (1997).
Evaluation of the "control over reinforcement" component in functional communication training.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
30, 267-277.
The effectiveness of functional communication training (FCT) as a
treatment for behavior disorders has been attributed to a number
of variables, one of which is the individual's ability to exert
control over the delivery of reinforcement. We evaluated this
component of FCT by exposing individuals to conditions in which
their behavior either did or did not affect the delivery of
reinforcement. Three adults with mental retardation who engaged
in self-injurious behavior (SIB) participated. Following a functi
onal analysis of their SIB, the effects of FCT were compared to
those of noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) in a multielement
design. The amount of reinforcement during both conditions was
equated by yoking the schedule of reinforcement during NCR
sessions to that in effect during FCT sessions. Results indicated
that FCT and NCR were equally effective in reducing the SIB of
all participants and suggest that control over reinforcement
delivery may not affect the degree to which FCT produces
behavioral suppr ession. However, a different benefit of FCT was
evident in the results: More consistent increases in the
alternative response were observed during the FCT condition than
during the NCR condition.
DESCRIPTORS: extinction, functional analysis, functional
communication training, noncontingent reinforcement,
self-injurious behavior