Persistence during extinction: examining the effects of continuous and intermittent reinforcement on problem behavior
MacDonald, Jacquelyn M. ; Ahearn, William H. ; Parry-Cruwys, Diana ; Bancroft, Stacie ; Dube, William V.
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Abstract
This study examined behavioral persistence during extinction following continuous or intermittent reinforcement in the context of an analogue functional analysis of problem behavior. Participants were 4 children who had been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and who engaged in problem behavior maintained by social reinforcement. Experimental sessions included 4 successive 5-min components: no social interaction, continuous or intermittent reinforcement for problem behavior (alternating across sessions), extinction, and no social interaction. All participants' problem behavior was more persistent during extinction following continuous reinforcement, suggesting that behavior during extinction was affected by the preceding schedule of reinforcement.
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MacDonald JM, Ahearn WH, Parry-Cruwys D, Bancroft S, Dube WV. Persistence during extinction: examining the effects of continuous and intermittent reinforcement on problem behavior. J Appl Behav Anal. 2013 Spring;46(1):333-8. doi: 10.1002/jaba.3. Epub 2013 Feb 20. PubMed PMID: 24114109; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC3849707. Link to article on publisher's site