A Component Analysis of Function-Based Intervention: The Role of the Extinction Procedure

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to test the assumption that function-based interventions developed using the Function-Based Intervention Decision Model (Umbreit, Ferro, Liaupsin, & Lane, 2007) must consist of three method elements (i.e., adjustment of antecedent conditions, providing appropriate reinforcement for replacement behaviors, and eliminating reinforcement for target behaviors) for an optimal effect on changing behavior. In this study, the contribution of the extinction procedure was examined with three elementary school-aged students who were at risk for emotional and behavioral disorders. The study was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 consisted of a descriptive FBA involving assessment and intervention development. Phase 2 consisted of data collection in three conditions: baseline, intervention consisting of all three method elements, and intervention consisting of only antecedent adjustments and reinforcement of replacement behavior. Intervention phases were systematically introduced to each student using a multi-element reversal design (A-B-A-B-C-B) and resulted in improvements in the intervention conditions. Interventions using all three method elements were more effective in increasing replacement behaviors and decreasing target behaviors than those in which the extinction procedure was removed. Social validity using the Intervention Rating Profile-15 and Children's Intervention Rating Profile resulted in high acceptability ratings for interventions consisting of all three method elements. Limitations and directions for future research are discussed.