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On the validity of data produced by isolated and synthesized contingencies during the functional analysis of problem behavior
Author(s) -
Tiger Jeffrey H.,
Effertz Hannah M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of applied behavior analysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1938-3703
pISSN - 0021-8855
DOI - 10.1002/jaba.792
Subject(s) - reinforcement , psychology , contingency management , contingency , predictive validity , functional analysis , nominate , psychological intervention , external validity , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , social psychology , machine learning , intervention (counseling) , computer science , psychiatry , linguistics , philosophy , biochemistry , chemistry , gene
Functional analyses are intended to identify the reinforcers maintaining problem behavior in order to inform clinicians' selection of interventions. Traditionally, these analyses have exposed problem behavior to multiple, isolated reinforcement contingencies and in doing so, have ruled in and ruled out potential sources of reinforcement. Recently, some functional analysis models have forgone testing individual reinforcement contingencies and instead exposed problem behavior to 2 or more reinforcers simultaneously in a single, synthesized reinforcement contingency. The current review applies assessment analytics to these approaches to consider their relative sensitivity, specificity, discriminant validity, and predictive validity to yield practice recommendations and to nominate areas of future research.