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. 2005 Fall;38(3):385-9.
doi: 10.1901/jaba.2005.51-04.

Combined antecedent variables as motivating operations within functional analyses

Nathan A Call  1 , David P Wacker, Joel E Ringdahl, Eric W Boelter
Affiliations

Combined antecedent variables as motivating operations within functional analyses

Nathan A Call et al. J Appl Behav Anal. 2005 Fall.

Abstract

Functional analysis test conditions typically manipulate a single antecedent variable and an associated consequence to better isolate response-reinforcer relations. In some instances no problem behavior is observed, perhaps representing a false-negative finding. The present study evaluated one approach to assess potentially false-negative findings within functional analyses. Participants were exposed to single-antecedent functional analysis test conditions and combined-antecedent test conditions within a multielement design. Both participants engaged in problem behavior primarily during the combined-antecedent test conditions, and treatments matched to the results were effective in reducing problem behavior. Findings are discussed in terms of clinical implications of combining antecedent variables to further examine potentially false-negative functional analysis results.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. The rate of problem behavior during free play (filled circles), diverted attention/contingent attention (filled squares), demand escape (filled triangles), restricted tangible item/contingent tangible item (open squares) and combined-antecedent (open triangles) conditions.
Appropriate requests during Phase 2 are depicted as open circles.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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