Carrie S. W. Borrero & John C. Borrero. (2008).
Descriptive and experimental analyses of potential precursors to
problem behavior.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
41, 83-96.
We conducted descriptive observations of severe problem behavior for
2 individuals with autism to identify precursors to problem behavior. Several
comparative probability analyses were conducted in addition to lag-sequential
analyses using the descriptive data. Results of the descriptive analyses
showed that the probability of the potential precursor was greater given
problem behavior compared to the unconditional probability of the
potential precursor. Results of the lag-sequential analyses showed a
marked increase in the probability of a potential precursor in the 1-s
intervals immediately preceding an instance of problem behavior, and
that the probability of problem behavior was highest in the 1-s intervals
immediately following an instance of the precursor. We then conducted
separate functional analyses of problem behavior and the precursor to
identify respective operant functions. Results of the functional analyses
showed that both problem behavior and the precursor served the same
operant functions. These results replicate prior experimental analyses on
the relation between problem behavior and precursors and extend prior
research by illustrating a quantitative method to identify precursors to more
severe problem behavior.
DESCRIPTORS: descriptive assessment, functional analysis,
lag-sequential analysis, precursors, problem behavior, response-class hierarchies