Brown, K. A., Wacker, D. P., Derby, K. M., Peck, S. M., Richman, D. M., Sasso, G. M., Knutson, C. L., & Harding, J. W. (2000).
Evaluating the effects of functional communication training in the presence and absence of establishing operations.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
33, 53-71.
We conducted functional analyses of aberrant behavior with 4
children with developmental disabilities. We then implemented
functional communication training (FCT) by using different mands
across two contexts, one in which the establishing operation (EO)
that was relevant to the function of aberrant behavior was
present and one in which the EO that was relevant to the function
of aberrant behavior was absent. The mand used in the EO-present
context served the same function as aberrant behavior, and the
mand used in the EO-absent context served a different function
than the one identified via the functional analysis. In addition,
a free-play (control) condition was conducted for all children.
Increases in relevant manding were observed in the EO-present
context for 3 of the 4 participants. Decreases in aberrant
behavior were achieved by the end of the treatment analysis for
all 4 participants. Irrelevant mands were rarely observed in the
EO-absent context for 3 of the 4 participants. Evaluating the
effectiveness of FCT across different contexts allowed a further
analysis of manding when the establishing operations were present
or absent. The contributions of this study to the understanding
of functional equivalence are also discussed.
DESCRIPTORS: _functional communication training, establishing
operations, manding, functional equivalence