THE EFFECT OF NONCONTINGENT SENSORY REINFORCEMENT, CONTINGENT SENSORYREINFORCEMENT, AND RESPONSE INTERRUPTION ON STEREOTYPICAL AND SELF-INJURIOUS-BEHAVIOR

Three analyses were conducted to assess the effects of different conse quent stimuli on the rate of stereotypical and self-injurious behavior performed by two individuals with severe developmental disabilities a nd dual sensory impairments. An analogue functional analysis documente d an undifferentiated pattern of problem behavior across all condition s for Participant 1. Data for Participant 2 indicated an undifferentia ted pattern with lower frequencies in the demand condition. Stimuli ch osen to compete with the type of sensory stimulation produced by the s tereotypy and self-injurious behavior were presented noncontingently d uring play conditions. Noncontingent presentation of the specially sel ected stimuli resulted in reductions in stereotypy and self-injurious behavior Finally, contingent presentation of the same stimuli with and without response interruption was assessed in a demand context. Conti ngent presentation of the specially selected stimuli plus response int erruption resulted in more suppression than contingent sensory stimulu s presentation alone. Results are discussed as to competing and concur rent schedules of reinforcement. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science L td.