Function-based intervention Glossary

Describe the reinforcement relation precisely

Attention-maintained behavior and tangible-maintained behavior, also called access-maintained behavior, describe behavior strengthened by socially delivered attention, items, activities, or access under relevant conditions.

Escape-maintained behavior describes behavior strengthened when a demand, activity, interaction, stimulus, or other event is ended, postponed, reduced, or avoided. The broader label socially mediated negative reinforcement identifies a consequence another person delivers that removes or prevents a relevant event. Socially mediated positive reinforcement identifies another person adding or presenting a reinforcing event.

Automatic positive reinforcement describes behavior strengthened by stimulation produced directly by the response. Automatic negative reinforcement describes behavior strengthened by direct reduction or prevention of an aversive condition. Medical, pain, sensory, sleep, and communication questions still require appropriate interdisciplinary assessment.

The BACB BCBA Test Content Outline includes reinforcement contingencies, assessment, function-based treatment, differential reinforcement, extinction, and evaluation as examination content. It is not a universal clinical protocol.

Build support around an accessible alternative

Function-based treatment uses assessment evidence to select changes matched to the variables influencing behavior. A useful plan may teach a communication response, improve predictability, alter difficult conditions, increase choice, address health or access needs, enrich the environment, and change partner behavior.

Functional communication training, or FCT, teaches a communication response that accesses a relevant outcome. The response may use speech, AAC, sign, gesture, movement, or another effective form. It needs reasonable effort, reliable recognition, and partners who can respond.

ASHA's AAC portal says AAC users should always have access to their tools or devices. Never remove communication to create motivation or make speech, eye contact, or one motor response the price of having a message honored.

A review of FCT research describes schedule thinning, discriminative control, and related arrangements. Research presents options and risks rather than a single dose or delay ladder.

Distinguish differential-reinforcement procedures

Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior reinforces a defined alternative response under the plan. With differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior, the reinforced response cannot occur at the same time as the target response.

Differential reinforcement of other behavior delivers reinforcement when the target response is absent for a defined interval or moment. A differential reinforcement of low rates arrangement reinforces lower rates under a stated criterion when reduction is appropriate.

Select goals with the person. Harmless movement, communication style, self-regulation, or cultural difference should not become a reduction target merely because it looks unusual. Define the response, opportunity, schedule, outcome, risks, generalization, and review rule.

Measure the alternative response and partner follow-through separately. A low client-response rate may reflect an unavailable device, delayed partner response, excessive effort, weak teaching, or an outcome the person does not value.

Understand time-based access and restrictive components

Noncontingent reinforcement provides a relevant event according to a time-based schedule rather than contingent on the target response. It can reduce deprivation or improve access. The label does not answer whether the event is healthy, wanted, practical, or sufficient.

Response blocking physically interrupts or prevents a response. Response interruption and redirection interrupts a response and directs another response. These procedures can be intrusive and may carry physical, emotional, communication, and escalation risks.

For covered behavior analysts, the BACB Ethics Code prioritizes reinforcement-based procedures and limits restrictive or punishment-based procedures. Verify competence, authority, consent, assent when applicable, health risks, training, monitoring, stop criteria, and less intrusive alternatives.

Small RIRD studies use varied procedures and show varied effects. They establish no universal indication or expected result.

Plan for recurrence

An extinction burst is a temporary increase or change in responding after a previously reinforcing consequence stops. It is a possible outcome, not an inevitable stage or proof that a plan is working.

Resurgence is recurrence of a previously reinforced response when a more recently reinforced alternative declines or loses reinforcement. Renewal is recurrence associated with a context change after responding decreased in another context.

Research on delay-tolerance and recurrence highlights signaling, pacing, competing activities, and resurgence risk. Plan across people, places, delays, disruptions, and changes in reinforcer availability. Preserve the alternative response when it is most needed.

A function-based example

Theo is a fictional eight-year-old who uses speech and AAC. Across ten defined activity-change opportunities, he sends an independent “more time” or “help” message in three. Adults honor or clearly answer the message within ten seconds in two of three instances.

After a qualified clinician and Theo review the pattern, the team changes transition warnings and partner response. Across eight later opportunities, Theo sends six messages, and adults respond within ten seconds to all six. The pattern is useful, while the bundled changes and small samples do not isolate a causal component. Report opportunity counts, partner behavior, prompts, access, distress, health factors, and Theo's view.

Explore clinical roles at Finni practices. Confirm the practice's assessment, consent, assent, AAC, safety, supervision, and recurrence-planning systems during diligence.