Use of descriptive and experimental analyses to identify the functional properties of aberrant behavior in school settings

Gary M Sasso; Thomas M Reimers; Linda J Cooper; David Wacker; Wendy Berg; Mark Steege; Laura Kelly; Ann Allaire

doi:10.1901/jaba.1992.25-809

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Use of descriptive and experimental analyses to identify the functional properties of aberrant behavior in school settings

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Use of descriptive and experimental analyses to identify the functional properties of aberrant behavior in school settings

Gary M Sasso, Thomas M Reimers, Linda J Cooper, David Wacker, Wendy Berg, Mark Steege, Laura Kelly and Ann Allaire

Journal of applied behavior analysis, Vol.25(4), pp.809-821

1992

DOI: 10.1901/jaba.1992.25-809

PMCID: PMC1279766

PMID: 1478904

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Abstract

We conducted descriptive and experimental analyses of aberrant behavior in school settings with 2 children with autism, using teachers as assessors. Experimental functional analyses carried out by the investigators were followed by training teachers to conduct a descriptive analysis and a classroom experimental analysis. A comparison of the assessment procedures showed that each procedure identified negative reinforcement as a maintaining variable for aberrant behavior. The teacher implemented an intervention based on the assessment with mixed results. We then replicated the initial results by having the first teacher train a second teacher to carry out the two assessment procedures. The results of these analyses were also in agreement, again identifying negative reinforcement as a variable maintaining aberrant behavior. An intervention based on negative reinforcement was then successfully implemented. These results suggest the applicability and utility of functional analyses carried out in school settings.

Behavior Therapy

Child Behavior Disorders - psychology

Verbal Behavior

Child Behavior Disorders - diagnosis

Education, Special

Humans

Personality Assessment

Male

Aggression - psychology

Autistic Disorder - psychology

Child Behavior Disorders - therapy

Social Behavior

Stereotyped Behavior

Adolescent

Female

Autistic Disorder - diagnosis

Autistic Disorder - therapy

Child

Details

Title: Subtitle: Use of descriptive and experimental analyses to identify the functional properties of aberrant behavior in school settings
Creators: Gary M Sasso - Department of Special Education, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242
Thomas M Reimers
Linda J Cooper
David Wacker
Wendy Berg
Mark Steege
Laura Kelly
Ann Allaire
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of applied behavior analysis, Vol.25(4), pp.809-821
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1901/jaba.1992.25-809
PMID: 1478904
PMCID: PMC1279766
ISSN: 0021-8855
eISSN: 1938-3703
Language: English
Date published: 1992
Academic Unit: Pediatric Psychology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
Record Identifier: 9983993345902771

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