An analysis of choice making in the assessment of young children with severe behavior problems

Jay W Harding; David P Wacker; Wendy K Berg; Linda J Cooper; Jennifer Asmus; Kisa Mlela; Jessica Muller

doi:10.1901/jaba.1999.32-63

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An analysis of choice making in the assessment of young children with severe behavior problems

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

An analysis of choice making in the assessment of young children with severe behavior problems

Jay W Harding, David P Wacker, Wendy K Berg, Linda J Cooper, Jennifer Asmus, Kisa Mlela and Jessica Muller

Journal of applied behavior analysis, Vol.32(1), pp.63-82

1999

DOI: 10.1901/jaba.1999.32-63

PMCID: PMC1284541

PMID: 10201104

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https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1999.32-63View

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Abstract

We examined how positive and negative reinforcement influenced time allocation, occurrence of problem behavior, and completion of parent instructions during a concurrent choice assessment with 2 preschool-aged children who displayed severe problem behavior in their homes. The children were given a series of concurrent choice options that varied availability of parent attention, access to preferred toys, and presentation of parent instructions. The results showed that both children consistently allocated their time to choice areas that included parent attention when no instructions were presented. When parent attention choice areas included the presentation of instructions, the children displayed differential patterns of behavior that appeared to be influenced by the presence or absence of preferred toys. The results extended previous applications of reinforcer assessment procedures by analyzing the relative influence of both positive and negative reinforcement within a concurrent-operants paradigm.

Punishment

Child Behavior Disorders - psychology

Child Behavior Disorders - diagnosis

Child Behavior Disorders - rehabilitation

Choice Behavior

Humans

Attention

Reinforcement (Psychology)

Child, Preschool

Male

Female

Reward

Behavior Therapy - methods

Details

Title: Subtitle: An analysis of choice making in the assessment of young children with severe behavior problems
Creators: Jay W Harding - University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
David P Wacker
Wendy K Berg
Linda J Cooper
Jennifer Asmus
Kisa Mlela
Jessica Muller
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of applied behavior analysis, Vol.32(1), pp.63-82
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1901/jaba.1999.32-63
PMID: 10201104
PMCID: PMC1284541
ISSN: 0021-8855
eISSN: 1938-3703
Grant note: R01-HD 29402 / NICHD NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 1999
Academic Unit: Pediatric Psychology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
Record Identifier: 9983993499702771

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