Function-Based Interventions Including Extinction
Randy Carino-Vaquero
Co-Presenters: Individual Presentation
College: College of Education
Major: Applied Behavior Analysis
Faculty Research Mentor: Daphna El Roy
Abstract:
In the context of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), extinction refers to the systematic withholding of reinforcement for a behavior that was previously reinforced, with the goal of decreasing the future occurrence of that behavior. This behavioral intervention is frequently employed to address maladaptive behaviors that may impede a learner’s well-being. Practitioners often implement extinction in conjunction with other function-based interventions to support individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), aiming to reduce maladaptive behaviors by discontinuing reinforcement while simultaneously strengthening appropriate, alternative behaviors. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify empirical studies examining the integration of extinction within function-based interventions and to evaluate the effectiveness of these combined approaches. A survey was developed using Google Forms and distributed to professionals employed at a pediatric therapy center specializing in Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Applied Behavior Analysis. The anonymous survey garnered responses from 17 professionals, most of whom worked with clients diagnosed with ASD ranging in age from 2-18 years old. Procedural survey questions focused on the use of specific function-based interventions, including extinction procedures identified in the literature review, as well as participants’ ratings of the effectiveness of the ones they reported using. Nine interventions out of 13 were reportedly used by at least 50% of participants. All interventions were rated as at least somewhat effective, with no participants reporting any intervention as ineffective.