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Reinforcer Assessment I: Using Problem Behavior to Select Reinforcers

We tested the hypothesis that knowledge of the variables controlling problem behavior could be used to select reinforcers. Students with severe developmental disabilities who exhibited frequent aggression, self-injury, and/or tantrums participated in the study. One group (N = 7) was assessed to engage in problem behavior maintained by social attention, and the second group (N = 7) was assessed to engage in problem behavior maintained by escape from unpleasant situations. A combined multiple baseline and alternating treatments design demonstrated that (a) praise was a reinforcer for the group with attention-maintained behavior and appeared to serve as a punisher for the students with escape-maintained behavior, (b) a procedural “time-out” was a reinforcer for the latter group, and (c) problem behavior was lowest when students with attention-maintained problem behavior were praised and students with escape-maintained problem behavior received the procedural time-out. This study suggests that stimuli that are functionally related to problem behavior (e.g., social attention, escape from tasks) can be used effectively as reinforcers. These findings further emphasize the need to individually select reinforcers because, for some individuals, a presumably positive consequence such as social praise can serve as a punisher.