Effects of continuous and intermittent reinforcement for problem behavior during functional communication training

We evaluated the effectiveness of functional communication training (FCT) i n reducing problem behavior and in strengthening alternative behavior when FCT was implemented without extinction Following the completion of function al analyses in which social-positive reinforcement was identified as the ma intaining variable for 5 participants' self-injurious behavior (SIB) and ag gression, the participants were first exposed to FCT in which both problem behavior and alternative behavior were reinforced continuously (i.e., on fi xed-ratio [FR] 1 schedules). During subsequent FCT conditions, the schedule of reinforcement for problem behavior was made more intermittent (e.g., FR 2, FR 3, FR 5, etc.), whereas alternative behavior was always reinforced a ccording to an FR 1 schedule. Results showed that 1 participant's problem b ehavior decreased and alternative behavior increased during FCT when both b ehaviors were reinforced on FR 1 schedules. The remaining 4 participants sh ifted response allocation from problem to alternative behavior as the sched ule of reinforcement for problem behavior became more intermittent. These r esults suggest that individuals might acquire alternative responses during FCT in spite of inconsistencies in the application of extinction, although even small errors in reinforcement may compromise treatment effects.