Within-session patterns of responding during functional analyses: The roleof establishing operations in clarifying behavioral function

Functional analysis procedures have been demonstrated to be effective for i dentifying the operant mechanisms underlying problem behavior. However, fun ctional analyses sometimes yield results that are undifferentiated (i.e., s how similar levels of responding across test conditions). Within-session (i .e., minute-by-minute) analyses of response patterns during undifferentiate d functional analyses have proven useful in clarifying behavioral function. This study extends previous research by examining within-session changes i n responding associated with variations in relevant establishing operations . Levels of problem behavior during the presentation and removal of reinfor cement were compared when responding occurred in test conditions associated with sources of social reinforcement (i.e., access to attention, materials , escape). Results showed that changes in responding associated with change s in relevant establishing operations could be examined to clarify behavior al function. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.