Twohig, M. P., & Woods, D. W. (2001). Evaluating the duration of the competing response in habit reversal: A parametric analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 517-520.

The effectiveness of habit reversal was compared across three different competing response (CR) durations. Results showed that 1-min and 3-min CR durations were associated with short-term and long-term increases in nail length for people who bit their nails. A 5-s CR duration produced immediate increases in nail length that were not maintained. Social validity data were consistent with these findings.

DESCRIPTORS: _competing response, habit reversal, nail biting, oral-digital habits