Date of Award
12-2000
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Applied Behavior Analysis: M.S.
Department
Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy
College
School of Health and Human Services
First Advisor
Kimberly Schulze
Second Advisor
Eric Rudrud
Third Advisor
Mary Beth Noll
Keywords and Subject Headings
response effort, self-injurious, alternative activity, developmental disabilities, self stimulatory, severe
Abstract
The use of alternative activities has been shown to be effective in reducing SIB in persons with profound mental retardation. Alternative activities for three participants who exhibited self-stimulatory and self-injurious behavior (SIB) were identified using a stimulus preference assessment. Items identified produced a low rate of SIB and a high rate of object participation as compared to the baseline condition. The level of response effort needed to maintain those rates was manipulated to determine the efficacy of two conditions: immediate and remote access to the item. This evaluation was conducted within an alternative treatment design (ATD) with additional generalization probes.
The immediate access condition resulted in low rates of SIB and high rates of object participation, whereas the remote access condition produced high rates of SIB and zero rates of object participation. These findings were consistent through the generalization sessions.
Results of the study illustrate the importance of considering the amount of effort needed to obtain an object which reduces self-stimulatory or self-injurious behavior in persons with profound mental retardation. The activity must be immediately accessible if it is to have a significant effect.
Recommended Citation
Harth, Jacqueline M., "The Role of Response Effort in Maintaining the Use of an Alternative Activity to Reduce Self-Injurious Behavior in Adults with Developmental Disabilities" (2000). Culminating Projects in Community Psychology, Counseling and Family Therapy. 114.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/cpcf_etds/114
