Date of Award

Fall 12-2012

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Committee Chair

Daniel H. Tingstrom

Committee Chair Department

Psychology

Committee Member 2

Joe Olmi

Committee Member 2 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 3

Heather Sterling

Committee Member 3 Department

Psychology

Committee Member 4

Brad Dufrene

Committee Member 4 Department

Psychology

Abstract

The present study examined the effectiveness of Time-Out with Escape Extinction (TO-EE) to reduce escape-maintained noncompliance and attention-maintained noncompliance through the use of four contingency reversal designs in a clinical setting. Four parent-child dyads served as participants. Screening procedures identified four children with low levels of compliance to first time issued, parent instructions. Functional analysis procedures identified two children who exhibited escape-maintained noncompliance and two children who exhibited attention-maintained noncompliance to serve as participants. Parents were trained in the implementation of screening, functional analysis, baseline, TO-EE, and contingency reversal procedures. Results indicated that TO-EE is effective at establishing compliance levels above 80% for both escape-maintained noncompliance and for attention-maintained noncompliance. Results are discussed in context of previous research investigating the effectiveness of time-out to decrease escape-maintained noncompliance. The findings from this study are also discussed in reference to determining efficient methods for identifying treatments for problem behaviors.

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