Watson, T. S., & Sterling, H. E. (1998).
Brief functional analysis and treatment of a vocal tic.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
31, 471-474.
This study sought to extend functional methodology to the
assessment and treatment of habits. After a descriptive
assessment indicated that coughing occurred while eating, a brief
functional analysis suggested that social attention was the
maintaining variable. Results demonstrated that treatment,
derived from the assessment and analysis data, rapidly eliminated
the cough. We discuss the appropriateness of using functional
analysis procedures for deriving treatments for habits in a
clinical setting.
DESCRIPTORS: vocal tic, descriptive assessment, functional
analysis, habits,clinic-based functional analysis