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IDENTIFICATION AND MODIFICATION OF A RESPONSE‐CLASS HIERARCHY
Author(s) -
Lalli Joseph S.,
Mace F. Charles,
Wohn Ted,
Livezey Kimberley
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.1901/jaba.1995.28-551
Subject(s) - psychology , aggression , reinforcement , autism , latency (audio) , developmental psychology , class (philosophy) , extinction (optical mineralogy) , functional analysis , identification (biology) , social psychology , biology , paleontology , biochemistry , artificial intelligence , computer science , gene , electrical engineering , engineering , botany
We evaluated the effects of extinction and negative reinforcement on the latency of response‐class members following requests made to a 15‐year‐old female with moderate mental retardation and autism. A functional analysis showed that the class members (screams, aggression, and self‐injury) were escape maintained. Informal observations suggested that these topographies generally occurred in the sequence listed above and therefore may have been hierarchically related. A therapist provided escape from demands contingent on a specific member of the class to determine the effects on the latency of the members' occurrence. Results showed that the latencies occurred in a predictable order. In addition, we expanded the response class to include a vocal response that was functionally equivalent to other members. Findings are discussed regarding the covariation and sequence of response‐class members and treatment development.