Fischer, S. M., Iwata, B. A., & Worsdell, A. S. (1997).
Attention as an establishing operation and as reinforcement during functional analyses.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
30, 335-338.
Results of functional analyses for 36 individuals whose
self-injurious behavior (SIB) was maintained by attention
indicated that SIB was highest during a condition in which the
individual was deprived of attention (establishing operation)
except as a consequence (reinforcer). Deprivation in the absence
of reinforcement produced marginal increases in SIB in 5
individuals, and a relatively rich schedule of noncontingent
attention produced the lowest levels of SIB. These results
suggest that clearer functional analysis outcomes are likely to
be obtained when test conditions contain both an establishing
operation to evoke behavior as well as a reinforcement
contingency to maintain it.
DESCRIPTORS: establishing operation, functional analysis,
self-injurious behavior