Session 185, Inside JABA Series #11
Functional Analysis Patterns of Automatic Reinforcement: A review and
component analysis of treatment effects
Instructor: Javier Virues-Ortega, Ph.D., BCBA-D
CE Offering: 1.5
Where to Listen:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTube
In Session 185, AKA Inside JABA Series #11, I'm joined by Drs. Linda LeBlanc, Jeff Tiger, and Javier Virues-Ortega for a deep dive into automatically maintained behavior. This session was inspired by the study Javier and his colleagues published in the Spring 2022 issue of JABA (Virues-Ortega, Clayton, Perez-Bustamante, Gaerlan, and Fahmie, 2022).
In this episode, we discuss the nature of, and challenges with automatically-maintained problem behavior. And this is tackled from both conceptual and treatment angles. As I mention in the episode, I don't encounter these types of problem behaviors that frequently these days, so it was a treat to update my knowledge in this area.
It's easy to think of automatic reinforcement as a monolith, but as it turns out, even dividing it up between positive and negative reinforcement may not be sufficient enough to render effective treatment.
We spent probably the first 25-30 minutes discussing some of the known challenges associated with assessing and treating these repertoires, and then spend the remaining time discussing Javier and his colleagues' paper, which presented two very unique investigations.
If you work with individuals with these profiles, you'll want to listen all the way through, and better still, check out the paper itself.
Here are some of the studies we discussed:
- Functional analysis patterns of automatic reinforcement: A review and component analysis of treatment effects (Virues-Ortega et al., 2022)
- An analysis of the reinforcing properties of handmouthing (Goh et al., 1995)
- Delineating subtypes of Self Injurious Behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement (Hagopian, Rooker, and Zarcone, 2015).
- A retrospective analysis of stereotypy: Applicability of the behavioral subtyping model (Wunderlich, Hemstreet and Best, 2022; not discussed during this episode, but in the same issue of JABA, and on my list to read next).
Lastly, I'd be remiss if I did not take a minute to thank Linda LeBlanc for reaching out to me to start the Inside JABA series. As I tell her every chance I get, I consider it an honor to be involved with the flagship journal in our field. If someone told me as an undergraduate at the University of New Hampshire that I'd be regularly involved with JABA in some capacity, I wouldn't have believed them.
As some of you might know, Linda's term as Editor in Chief is expiring, but we are planning to continue the podcast series with incoming EIC, Dr. John Borrero. More info on this to come, but in the meantime, please enjoy this installment of the Inside JABA Series.
Also, if you enjoy the Inside JABA content, please consider subscribing to the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Compared to other journals, it's quite a bargain price-wise, and it helps to support the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.
Instructions for this event:
- Listen to Session 185 of The Behavioral Observations Podcast. This link takes you to a page where you can access this episode via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube; along with streaming the show directly from the website.
- Purchase the CE. This will require creating an account for first time purchases, or logging in for returning customers.
- Check your email for a link to a quiz.
- Take the quiz in order to demonstrate attendance. NOTE: prior to taking the quiz, you will be prompted to enter your name and BACB Certificant #. Please enter your name in the way you want it to appear on your CE attendance certificate. This is important because some customers will occasionally enter their user names into this field, and in the event of a CE audit, the BACB will likely refuse to accept documentation with incorrect names.
- Download the certificate of completion.
- Save all materials, including emails confirming purchase.
- Optional: complete C.E. feedback survey, again you may need to cut and paste this URL into your browser: (https://goo.gl/forms/vA1Uyd5hsCcCdzAG2).
PS – please note that your participation certificate is emailed to you at the successful completion of the quiz. I have had some customers’ emails get lost in their spam/junk filters. If you do not receive an email with a link to your downloadable participation certificate, please check your spam folder first, and then reach out at the email below if it is not there.
Thank you so much for participating in this BACB Continuing Education event. If you have any questions about this event or anything else related to the podcast, please feel free to email me at Matt@behavioralobservations.com!
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