OK folks, it's back to school time in New Hampshire and elsewhere, so I thought it would be timely to bring Dr. Megan Miller of Navigation Behavioral Consulting back on the show to talk about effective strategies for obtaining instructional control, as well as dealing with disruptive behavior without using extinction.
These are topics that Megan presents on frequently, and many of these themes can be found in the book that she co-wrote with Robert Schramm, The Seven Steps to Earning Instructional Control. Megan also has a more specific training on this (CE's available!) for on her agency's website for those looking for additional information on this topic.
Finally, on September 27th, at 8 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Megan will be joining me and the members of The Behavioral Observations Membership group for a Zoom meeting. In this meeting, members will have the opportunity to ask Megan about instructional control, alternatives to escape, the PEAK ABA curriculum, and anything else (ABA related, of course!). We will also have none other than Greg Hanley joining us sometime in November (date TBA). If you're interested in learning more, then click here.
Megan mentioned a few studies and other resources in our conversation, so here are the links:
- Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior and Demand Fading in the Treatment of Escape-Maintained Destructive Behavior (Piazza, Moes, & Fisher, 1996).
- Assessment of the Relative Effects of Attention and Escape on Noncompliance (Rodriguez, Thompson, & Bayhnam, 2010).
- The Use of Positive and Negative Reinforcement in the Treatment of Escape-Maintained Destructive Behavior (Piazza et al, 1997).
- Robert Schramm's YouTube channel.
This podcast is sponsored by Britton Behavioral Consulting. Dr. Lisa Britton, BCBA-D specializes in providing independent fieldwork supervision in a remote context. If you listen to Session 29, you'll learn that she has a wealth of experience in both the practice of Behavior Analysis, as well some great processes in place for mentoring soon-to-be BCBA's. I have corresponded with previous mentees of hers, and to a person, they sang her praises as a supervisor.
Hi Matt, do you have a copy of this 7 steps to instructional control fidelity type checklist that Dr. Miller mentioned?
Hi Sasha, I don’t off hand right now. I’ll check the book when I have a chance and get back to you. Thanks!
Excellent session! Were you able to find the checklist? Thanks!
Hi Kaylee, after thinking about it more, I realized that I probably shouldn’t reproduce the checklist or distribute it in any way as the materials in the book are copyrighted (copywritten?). The book itself isn’t terribly expensive, and it has lots of great stuff in it, so you may want to just add it to your library. You can get the book here.
Cheers!
This was a most important episode! I will make this a part of our staff training. I attended one of Robert Schramm’s trainings years ago and to revisit the 7 steps was so important. Thanks for all you do for all of us!
This is one of many positive comments we’ve received on this episode! Many supervisors are making this mandatory listenitng for their supervisees! I’m so glad you got a lot out of it. If you want to, please join us for the upcoming Behavioral Observations Membership Zoom hangout on 9/27. Megan will join us and take questions directly on instructional control, PEAK, or anything else you have on your mind.
I really enjoyed this episode, it is very important to review information we may take for granted in our day to day work. I have ordered the book already and am looking forward to reading it. With the zoom membership do you ‘meet’ regularly to have open discussions on pre-identified topics? How does zoom work? Thank you
Hi Gabrielle, thanks for the feedback! I emailed you about the membership, but let me know if you have additional questions. Best, Matt
Hi Matt, As a dog trainer I have generally been of the mind that those of you using ABA with children are far ahead of us in regard to following evidence-based instructional practices. When you talked about about being bitten by kids I had to laugh. Maybe dog trainers have one up on you on that one. My training work with dogs focuses on those struggling with fear based behaviors. Not being bitten is something I’ve strived for for years. Minimizing or eliminating the use of force with them is critical. And extinction bursts can land you in the ER 😉
Hi Debbie, I’m glad my injuries gave you cause to laugh, LOL! Thanks for writing in!
Hi Matt,
Big fan over here, and soon to be ‘newly minted’ BCBA – minty fresh, as it were. Anyway, I was intrigued by Dr. Miller’s argument that escape extinction is not the least restrictive practice, and may raise some ethical concerns. She mentions ‘paced instruction’ in the interview. I was not able to find that intervention in JABA, do you have any references to articles on paced instruction? Or any articles that mention alternatives to escape extinction?
I know that she mentions a book, and while I agree with a lot of the concepts (making yourself a reinforcer, etc.), I’m not sure one can, per se, remove all reinforcing contingencies in the environment if an individual escapes. Are you aware of what research Dr. Miller used to come to these conclusions? It would be most helpful!
Thanks for doing what you do, Matt! I truly appreciate and value your podcast and contribution to our field.
Best regards,
Michael
Newly minted BCBA’s are awesome!! Thanks for taking a minute to write in. I don’t know what Megan was referencing off the top of my head, but I’ll forward your message to her. Best, Matt
What book is Megan referring to when she mentions The Early Start Denver Model explaining the value of objects over people in children with autism?
Hi Holly, I don’t recall, so I’ll forward this to her and let you know. Best, Matt
Here’s the book.