TY - JOUR
T1 - Inappropriate mealtime behavior
T2 - The effects of noncontingent access to preferred tangibles on responding in functional analyses
AU - González, Melissa L.
AU - Rubio, Emily Kate
AU - Taylor, Tessa
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 Elsevier Ltd.
PY - 2014/12/1
Y1 - 2014/12/1
N2 - An understanding of the functional variables associated with inappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB) is critical to developing an effective and efficient treatment for food refusal. To this aim, functional analysis methodology has been modified for the meal context, and previous research has shown that multiple sources of reinforcement maintain IMB. Functional analysis literature, related to severe problem behavior, suggests that access to preferred stimuli may abolish or compete with social reinforcers in some cases. The role of noncontingent access to preferred stimuli during the assessment of IMB has not been evaluated. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects noncontingent access to preferred toys/activities on IMB in the presence and absence of social consequences. The specific aims were to evaluate: (1) levels of IMB when the spoon is held stationary at the child's lips when preferred tangible stimuli are present noncontingently vs. absent; (2) levels of IMB when social consequences were provided contingent upon IMB when preferred tangible stimuli are present noncontingently vs. absent. For many participants, levels of IMB were reduced with the inclusion of preferred toys/activities; while for one, levels of IMB increased. Possible implications of these findings on functional analyses of IMB will be discussed.
AB - An understanding of the functional variables associated with inappropriate mealtime behavior (IMB) is critical to developing an effective and efficient treatment for food refusal. To this aim, functional analysis methodology has been modified for the meal context, and previous research has shown that multiple sources of reinforcement maintain IMB. Functional analysis literature, related to severe problem behavior, suggests that access to preferred stimuli may abolish or compete with social reinforcers in some cases. The role of noncontingent access to preferred stimuli during the assessment of IMB has not been evaluated. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects noncontingent access to preferred toys/activities on IMB in the presence and absence of social consequences. The specific aims were to evaluate: (1) levels of IMB when the spoon is held stationary at the child's lips when preferred tangible stimuli are present noncontingently vs. absent; (2) levels of IMB when social consequences were provided contingent upon IMB when preferred tangible stimuli are present noncontingently vs. absent. For many participants, levels of IMB were reduced with the inclusion of preferred toys/activities; while for one, levels of IMB increased. Possible implications of these findings on functional analyses of IMB will be discussed.
KW - Food refusal
KW - Functional analysis
KW - Inappropriate mealtime behavior
KW - Noncontingent access
KW - Tangible stimuli
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.08.016
DO - 10.1016/j.ridd.2014.08.016
M3 - Article
C2 - 25255166
AN - SCOPUS:84907964934
SN - 0891-4222
VL - 35
SP - 3655
EP - 3664
JO - Research in Developmental Disabilities
JF - Research in Developmental Disabilities
IS - 12
ER -