Clarifying an ambiguous functional analysis with matched and mismatched extinction procedures

Results of a functional analysis were ambiguous in suggesting that self-inj urious behavior (SIB) was maintained by escape, sensory reinforcement, or b oth. To help clarify these results, we compared escape extinction, sensory extinction, and the combined treatments. Sensory extinction proved to be a necessary and sufficient treatment, whereas escape extinction failed to dec rease SIE. These analyses helped to clarify the function of SIE and to iden tify an effective and efficient treatment.