Play versus alone conditions as controls during functional analyses of self-injurious escape behavior

We compared the effects of continuous reinforcement (play) and alone condit ions as controls during functional analyses for 66 individuals whose self-i njurious behavior (SIB) was maintained by escape. In every case, SIE was lo wer during both control conditions than it was during the test (demand) con dition. However, SIE was lowest during;the alone condition more often than it was during the play condition. Circumstances under which the alone condi tion might serve as an alternative or more suitable control for escape-main tained problem behaviors are discussed.