The Use of Noncontingent Reinforcement to Decrease Challenging Behaviors

Justinne Alcivar

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

Abstract:

This study investigated the use of noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) as a strategy for reducing challenging behaviors in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other developmental disabilities (DD). Noncontingent reinforcement involves providing reinforcement on a fixed-time schedule, regardless of whether problematic behavior occurs, and has been shown to decrease maladaptive behaviors while promoting more adaptive alternatives. The study surveyed professionals who work at the home or center setting of an ABA therapy agency to assess their use of NCR as an intervention to reduce maladaptive behavior in their student’s with DD or ASD. In addition, the survey inquired about their perceptions of the effectiveness of NCR in reducing various maladaptive behaviors in their learners. The survey was created by the author using a  literature review for her thesis as a guide to create the survey questions. There were 22 questions in total. The first five questions were demographic questions inquiring about each participant's work history. The other 22 questions were procedural - asking if the participant had used NCR to reduce specific maladaptive behaviors found effective in the literature. Hypothesized results anticipate the NCR was found to be widely used by participants and found effective in reducing targeted maladaptive behaviors by the practitioners who used the intervention.