LeAnne Johnson, Jennifer McComas, Andrea Thompson, & Frank J. Symons (2004).
Obtained versus programmed reinforcement: Practical considerations in the treatment of escape-reinforced aggression.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
37, 239-242.
This investigation provides a preliminary examination of the difference
between programmed and obtained reinforcement rates and its potential
influence during treatment of aggression in a natural setting. Following
a functional analysis that suggested that the aggression of a boy with
autism was negatively reinforced, intervention was implemented by the
boy's mother. Concurrent fixed-ratio (FR) 1 FR 1 schedules of escape
were arranged for manding and aggression. When mands failed to compete
effectively with aggression, obtained reinforcement ratios were calculated;
these indicated that obtained reinforcement varied from the programmed
schedule for aggression but not for mands. Increasing the rate of prompts
for mands resulted in an increase in mands and a decrease in aggression to
near-zero levels.
DESCRIPTORS: concurrent schedules, functional communication training, obtained
reinforcement, response allocation