Kahng, S., Iwata,B.A., Thompson,R.H., & Hanley,G.P. (2000).
A method for identifying satiation versus extinction effects under noncontingent reinforcement schedules.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
33, 419-432.
We evaluated one method for determining whether response suppression under
non-contingent reinforcement (NCR) is a function of satiation or extinction.
Three individuals with developmental disabilities who engages in self-injurious
behavior (SIB) or aggression participated. Results of functional analyses indicated
that their problem behavior was maintained by social-positive reinforcement. NCR
procedures, individualized for each participant, were implemented in a multiple baseline
across subjects design and were associated with decreases in all participants' problem
behavior. Identification of the mechanism by which NCR produced these effects was
based on examination of cumulative records showing response patterns during
and immediately following each NCR session. Satiation during NCR should lead to a
temporary increase in responding during the post-NCR (extinction) period due
to a transition from the availability to the unavailability of reinforcement (satiation
to deprivation). Alternatively, extinction during NCR should reveal no increase
in responding during the extinction period because the contingency for the problem behavior
would remain unchanged and the transition from satiation to deprivation conditions
would be irrelevant. Results suggested that the operative mechanisms of NCR
were idiosyncratic across the 3 participants and appeared to change during
treatment for 1 of the participants.
DESCRIPTORS: _functional analysis, noncontingent reinforcement, extinction, satiation,
self-injurious behavior, aggression