Functional analysis of hair manipulation: A replication and extension

In a multi-phase investigation, we assessed the problematic hair manipulati on of a four-year-old male diagnosed with autism. In phase 1, a functional analysis of hair manipulation resulted in high levels of responding during a no-interaction condition, while near-zero levels were observed in other c onditions. In phase 2, hair manipulation was reduced to near-zero levels du ring a condition in which Billy wore gloves on his hands to attenuate digit al-tactile stimulation. In phase 3, a stimulus preference assessment indica ted that object manipulation competed with hair manipulation, and that wear ing gloves did not alter the amount of time that Billy manipulated preferre d objects. The results are discussed in the context of interventions that a chieve their effects via reinforcer substitutability or competition. Copyri ght (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.