Effects of Signaled Positive Reinforcement on Problem Behavior Maintained by Negative Reinforcement

• DOI: 10.1007/s10864-016-9265-0
• Publication Date: 2016-12-24T11:17:29Z
• Authors: Kelly M. Schieltz; David P. Wacker; Patrick W. Romani
• Keywords: Multiple baseline design; Positive Behavior Support

We evaluated the effects of providing positive reinforcement for task completion, signaled via the presence of a tangible item, on escape-maintained problem behavior displayed by three typically developing children during one-time 90-min outpatient evaluations. Brief functional analyses of problem behavior, conducted within a multielement design, identified negative reinforcement. Treatment, conducted within a nonconcurrent multiple baseline with reversal design, consisted of a signal for positive reinforcement while continuing to permit escape for problem behavior, thus creating a competition between positive and negative reinforcement. For all participants, problem behavior decreased.