Single Case Research Design (SCRD) Study: Differential Reinforcement Without Extinction

Unit 9 Planning Template

Use this guide to plan the information needed to include in your Poster Presentation. This is only for your personal use and does not need to be submitted.

1 Provide an Annotated Biography of three articles that support the evidence base of your study. Read the article and provide a 2-paragraph summary for each that includes:

1 A brief description of the research question(s) and hypothesis

2 The method, setting, and subjects, research design

3 A summary of the results

4 The conclusions as reported by the study author

Article 1:

Trump, C. E., Ayres, K. M., Quinland, K. K., & Zabala, K. A. (2020). Differential reinforcement without extinction: A review of the literature. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 20(2), 94–107. https://doi.org/10.1037/bar0000169 The research question of this study focused on the efficacy of interventions using Differential Reinforcement without Extinction (DRA) in reducing problem behavior and increasing appropriate behavior. The authors aimed to investigate various aspects of this intervention and assess its impact on human participants. The method involved searching multiple databases and examining peer-reviewed academic journal articles in English. The research design employed single-case research designs to evaluate the treatment effects, explicitly focusing on DRA without extinction.The study found that DRA interventions varied in effectiveness. About 36% of experiments showed positive effects, but only 16 met high-quality standards. This suggests that DRA without extinction can work for some problem behaviors, especially when appropriate behavior is reinforced favorably. However, many experiments needed more high-quality evidence due to missing procedural fidelity, unclear variable descriptions, and a lack of social validity measures. The study's conclusions stress manipulating reinforcement schedules in concurrent settings to reduce problem behavior and achieve desired response allocation. Aligning reinforcement parameters to make appropriate behavior more favorable leads to positive results hence the authors urge practitioners to include participant input, enhancing social validity.Trump, C. E., Ayres, K. M., Quinland, K. K., & Zabala, K. A. (2020). Differential reinforcement without extinction: A review of the literature. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 20(2), 94–107. https://doi.org/10.1037/bar0000169 The research question of this study focused on the efficacy of interventions using Differential Reinforcement without Extinction (DRA) in reducing problem behavior and increasing appropriate behavior. The authors aimed to investigate various aspects of this intervention and assess its impact on human participants. The method involved searching multiple databases and examining peer-reviewed academic journal articles in English. The research design employed single-case research designs to evaluate the treatment effects, explicitly focusing on DRA without extinction.The study found that DRA interventions varied in effectiveness. About 36% of experiments showed positive effects, but only 16 met high-quality standards. This suggests that DRA without extinction can work for some problem behaviors, especially when appropriate behavior is reinforced favorably. However, many experiments needed more high-quality evidence due to missing procedural fidelity, unclear variable descriptions, and a lack of social validity measures. The study's conclusions stress manipulating reinforcement schedules in concurrent settings to reduce problem behavior and achieve desired response allocation. Aligning reinforcement parameters to make appropriate behavior more favorable leads to positive results hence the authors urge practitioners to include participant input, enhancing social validity.

Article 2:

Migan-Gandonou H. J. A., & Michael, A. V. (2021). Functional Analysis and Noncontingent Reinforcement With Extinction in the Treatment of Perseverative Speech. Behavior analysis in practice, 14(1), 208–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-020-00523-xThis study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a combined intervention involving Non contingent Reinforcement and extinction in treating perseverative speech in boy who was 11 years old and had autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research question revolved around whether this combined treatment strategy could significantly reduce the targeted perseverative speech behavior, which was suspected to be maintained by attention. The study utilized a single-subject reversal design (A-B-A-B) and conducted a functional analysis to confirm the maintaining function of attention. The participant, Nathan, received in-home behavioral therapy based on applied behavior analysis (ABA). NCR, involving fixed-time (FT) delivery of verbal attention and subsequent extinction of perseverative speech, was implemented with schedule thinning. The study employed data collection using partial interval recording and external observers to ensure reliability.The study's findings proved that the NCR + EXT intervention was effective in lowering perseverative speech that is sustained by attention. Persistent speech was remarkably reduced after treatment, reaching almost nil levels and remaining stable throughout schedule thinning. Comparing the NCR + EXT intervention to baseline levels, perseverative speech decreased by 98.53%. The study showed that treating perseverative speech in people with ASD can be greatly aided by combining NCR and extinction. The authors proposed that augmenting NCR with additional interventions can improve treatment success and stressed the significance of locating and providing recognized reinforcers as part of the NCR process. They recommended further research to explore the interplay between NCR and extinction and the potential benefits of combining NCR with Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA). Social validity assessments conducted 28 months after the study showed that the intervention was socially significant and well-accepted by the caregiver, underscoring the long-term impact and acceptability of this treatment approach for individuals with ASD.Migan-Gandonou H. J. A., & Michael, A. V. (2021). Functional Analysis and Noncontingent Reinforcement With Extinction in the Treatment of Perseverative Speech. Behavior analysis in practice, 14(1), 208–213. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-020-00523-xThis study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a combined intervention involving Non contingent Reinforcement and extinction in treating perseverative speech in boy who was 11 years old and had autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The research question revolved around whether this combined treatment strategy could significantly reduce the targeted perseverative speech behavior, which was suspected to be maintained by attention. The study utilized a single-subject reversal design (A-B-A-B) and conducted a functional analysis to confirm the maintaining function of attention. The participant, Nathan, received in-home behavioral therapy based on applied behavior analysis (ABA). NCR, involving fixed-time (FT) delivery of verbal attention and subsequent extinction of perseverative speech, was implemented with schedule thinning. The study employed data collection using partial interval recording and external observers to ensure reliability.The study's findings proved that the NCR + EXT intervention was effective in lowering perseverative speech that is sustained by attention. Persistent speech was remarkably reduced after treatment, reaching almost nil levels and remaining stable throughout schedule thinning. Comparing the NCR + EXT intervention to baseline levels, perseverative speech decreased by 98.53%. The study showed that treating perseverative speech in people with ASD can be greatly aided by combining NCR and extinction. The authors proposed that augmenting NCR with additional interventions can improve treatment success and stressed the significance of locating and providing recognized reinforcers as part of the NCR process. They recommended further research to explore the interplay between NCR and extinction and the potential benefits of combining NCR with Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA). Social validity assessments conducted 28 months after the study showed that the intervention was socially significant and well-accepted by the caregiver, underscoring the long-term impact and acceptability of this treatment approach for individuals with ASD.

Article 3:

Risse M. R., Blair K. C., & Russo D. A. (2023, June 18). Evaluating Technology-Based Self-Monitoring of Performance with Differential Reinforcement for Students with Disabilities. Behav Sci (Basel) 13(6):508. https://doi.org10.3390/bs13060508The study investigated the efficacy of a technology-based Self-Monitoring Procedure (SMP) combined with Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA) in reducing off-task behavior and increasing task completion among students with disabilities in a general education classroom. The research question was focused on whether the implementation of technology-based SMP with DRA would result in a decrease in off-task behavior and an increase in task completion. The research was performed within the standard educational settings and incorporated three learners as participants: Robin, Selena, and Dominic. The study design incorporated different baseline approaches across participants including three stages – baseline, differential reinforcement with SMP, as well as fading. This approach allowed for the evaluation of the intervention’s ramification on the respective participants. The research results indicated that that technology-driven SMP integrated with DRA