Replacing Challenging Behavior by Teaching Functional Communication

Jessica Darby

 Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: College of Education
Major: Applied Behavior Analysis
Faculty Research Mentor: Randi Sarokoff
 

Abstract:

Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience language and communication challenges. As a result, they may engage in challenging behaviors to express their wants and needs. Carr and Durand (1985) explored whether these behaviors could be replaced with socially functional alternatives. Their study identified the functions of challenging behaviors and taught learners specific phrases to communicate their needs, such as “I don’t understand” to request assistance and “Am I doing good work?” to seek attention. These taught responses led to a reduction in challenging behaviors. This approach is now known as Functional Communication Training (FCT). The present study aimed to examine the use of FCT by professionals in education and applied behavior analysis (ABA). A survey was conducted to assess if FCT is being implemented by professionals and how effective practitioners perceive it to be in reducing challenging behaviors.The participants that took the survey were graduate students enrolled in the Applied Behavior Analysis Master’s Program at Kean University. A survey was conducted online to ask participants about their use of functional communication training. The survey was created by the author using the literature review as a guide to create the survey. There were 16 questions in total including demographics and procedural questions. The procedural questions asked if the professional had used FCT to reduce a specific inappropriate behavior and if that participant answered yes, they were taken to a Likert scale to rate its perceived effectiveness. Hypothesized results anticipate that participants would have used FCT in their practice to reduce most of the behaviors identified in the literature. In addition, it is anticipated that participants would have found FCT to be effective in reducing challenging behavior through the use of FCT.