| Functional communication training (FCT; Carr, E. G., & Durand, V. M. (1985)). Reducing behavior problems through functional communication training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 111-126.) is a reinforcement-based treatment package that is directly based on functional analysis. FCT involves replacing aberrant behavior with a communicative response, called a mand, which serves the same function as aberrant behavior. Carr and Durand (1985) demonstrated that the mand should be relevant to the perceived function of aberrant behavior. They taught a child who displayed aberrant behavior during difficult demands to request help (relevant to the function of aberrant behavior) or praise (irrelevant to the function of aberrant behavior) while working on the task, and found that the child asked for help much more frequently than praise. Further analysis of FCT is needed, especially with respect to the necessity of matching mands to the functions of aberrant behavior. In this study, brief functional analyses were conducted with four participants to identify the operant functions for aberrant behavior. FCT treatment packages were developed based on the assessment results. During treatment, each child was taught two mands in two different contexts, a relevant mand that matched the function of aberrant behavior and an irrelevant mand that did not match the function of aberrant behavior. We hypothesized that only the relevant mand would be acquired in the relevant context because it was matched to the function of aberrant behavior. |
