Lisa Winborn-Kemmerer, Joel E. Ringdahl,
David P. Wacker, & Kana Kitsukawa. (2009).
A demonstration of individual preference for
novel mands during functional communication training.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
42, 185-189.
Preference for mand topography was evaluated for 2 individuals with
developmental disabilities who exhibited problem behavior. The results
of a functional analysis showed that each participant’s problem behavior
was maintained by social reinforcement. Participants were taught two
novel mand topographies for the same functional reinforcer, and each
proved to be effective in reducing problem behavior. Finally, preference
for mand topography was assessed within a concurrent-schedules design.
Results indicated that functional communication training was an effective
treatment, regardless of the mand used, and that each participant
demonstrated a preference for one mand topography relative to the other.
DESCRIPTORS: functional analysis, functional communication training, problem behavior, mands