Understanding Intra-Response Class Covariation from the Matching Theory Perspective

The purpose of this study was to utilize the matching theory to understand intra-response class covariation as a result of extinction for selected members of the response class versus functional communication training. The participant was a 9-year old girl with a severe disability and problem behaviors. Experimental procedures included functional analysis, extinction, and functional communication training. Results showed that in accordance with the matching theory, responses (problem or adaptive) that were continuously reinforced occurred at a higher rate when compared to responses on extinction. In addition, extinction for some problem responses increased the rate of non-targeted problem responses; however, concurrent reinforcement of a newly learned functionally equivalent communication response increased the rate of this behavior and decreased all problem behaviors. (Contains 5 tables and 3 figures.)