Comparison of Consequence Locus in Decreasing a Self-Injurious Behavior in a Person with Mental Retardation
Date of Award
5-1987
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Department
Psychology
College
College of Liberal Arts
First Advisor
Dennis Nunes
Third Advisor
Marilyn A. Jensen
Keywords and Subject Headings
Self-injurious behavior, Mental Retardation, Consequence Locus, Punishment, Antecedent Response, Arm Raise Consequence, Head Hitting
Abstract
This experiment compares pre-response consequation of a self-injurious behavior to post-response consequation using a 10-sec arm lift consequence. The research compared the two consequence times in an alternating treatments design using a person with profound mental retardation. The dependent variable was the time between self-injurious responses. Although head hitting interresponse times decreased during the sessions, pre-response consequation was more effective than post-response consequation. Pre-response punishment prevented injury from occurring thus adding to its social validity. Additional research is needed to determine the characteristics of pre-response consequation.
Recommended Citation
Reiland, Dennis, "Comparison of Consequence Locus in Decreasing a Self-Injurious Behavior in a Person with Mental Retardation" (1987). Culminating Projects in Psychology. 21.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/psyc_etds/21
Comments/Acknowledgements
In February 2025, the author asked that the culminating project no longer be available in the Repository. It is still available physically in St. Cloud State's University Library and through inter-library loan.