Resurgence of Severe Challenging Behavior and Schedule Thinning with the Terminal Schedule Probe Method
Multiple schedules promote schedule thinning during treatment for challenging behavior. Some strategies for multiple-schedule-thinning progressions include dense-to-lean (DTL; gradually thinning schedules of reinforcement in small steps), fixed lean (FL; abruptly shifting to lean schedules), and ter...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/3/382 |
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| author | Craig W. Strohmeier Elizabeth Thuman John Michael Falligant Mirela Cengher Michelle D. Chin Patricia F. Kurtz |
| author_facet | Craig W. Strohmeier Elizabeth Thuman John Michael Falligant Mirela Cengher Michelle D. Chin Patricia F. Kurtz |
| author_sort | Craig W. Strohmeier |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Multiple schedules promote schedule thinning during treatment for challenging behavior. Some strategies for multiple-schedule-thinning progressions include dense-to-lean (DTL; gradually thinning schedules of reinforcement in small steps), fixed lean (FL; abruptly shifting to lean schedules), and terminal probe (TP; probing terminal schedule values to inform subsequent thinning steps) thinning. Recent research indicates that TP thinning offers an empirically derived process for schedule thinning to terminal schedule values. In the current investigation, we replicated, re-analyzed, and extended recent research on the TP-thinning method. The schedule-thinning outcomes were consistent with the initial investigation, indicating that longer periods of reinforcer unavailability were facilitated by TP thinning in comparison with DTL thinning. We also examined resurgence, or the temporary increase in challenging behavior after alternative behavior is placed on extinction, across a wide range of downshifts in reinforcement. When resurgence occurred across ranges of downshifts programmed for both schedule-thinning methods, it occurred more often with DTL thinning. The resurgence analyses did not reveal an exponential increase in challenging behavior as a function of downshifts in reinforcement, which is an interesting departure from recent investigations. Points of discussion include clinical implications and areas for future research on the TP-thinning method. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fb73a620c04c44b3831eaf8b10d1443b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-fb73a620c04c44b3831eaf8b10d1443b2025-08-20T02:42:38ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2025-03-0115338210.3390/bs15030382Resurgence of Severe Challenging Behavior and Schedule Thinning with the Terminal Schedule Probe MethodCraig W. Strohmeier0Elizabeth Thuman1John Michael Falligant2Mirela Cengher3Michelle D. Chin4Patricia F. Kurtz5Kennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USAKennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USADepartment of Psychological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USADepartment of Psychology, University of Maryland Baltimore County, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD 21250, USAKennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USAKennedy Krieger Institute, 707 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, USAMultiple schedules promote schedule thinning during treatment for challenging behavior. Some strategies for multiple-schedule-thinning progressions include dense-to-lean (DTL; gradually thinning schedules of reinforcement in small steps), fixed lean (FL; abruptly shifting to lean schedules), and terminal probe (TP; probing terminal schedule values to inform subsequent thinning steps) thinning. Recent research indicates that TP thinning offers an empirically derived process for schedule thinning to terminal schedule values. In the current investigation, we replicated, re-analyzed, and extended recent research on the TP-thinning method. The schedule-thinning outcomes were consistent with the initial investigation, indicating that longer periods of reinforcer unavailability were facilitated by TP thinning in comparison with DTL thinning. We also examined resurgence, or the temporary increase in challenging behavior after alternative behavior is placed on extinction, across a wide range of downshifts in reinforcement. When resurgence occurred across ranges of downshifts programmed for both schedule-thinning methods, it occurred more often with DTL thinning. The resurgence analyses did not reveal an exponential increase in challenging behavior as a function of downshifts in reinforcement, which is an interesting departure from recent investigations. Points of discussion include clinical implications and areas for future research on the TP-thinning method.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/3/382functional analysismultiple schedulechallenging behaviorresurgenceschedule thinning |
| spellingShingle | Craig W. Strohmeier Elizabeth Thuman John Michael Falligant Mirela Cengher Michelle D. Chin Patricia F. Kurtz Resurgence of Severe Challenging Behavior and Schedule Thinning with the Terminal Schedule Probe Method Behavioral Sciences functional analysis multiple schedule challenging behavior resurgence schedule thinning |
| title | Resurgence of Severe Challenging Behavior and Schedule Thinning with the Terminal Schedule Probe Method |
| title_full | Resurgence of Severe Challenging Behavior and Schedule Thinning with the Terminal Schedule Probe Method |
| title_fullStr | Resurgence of Severe Challenging Behavior and Schedule Thinning with the Terminal Schedule Probe Method |
| title_full_unstemmed | Resurgence of Severe Challenging Behavior and Schedule Thinning with the Terminal Schedule Probe Method |
| title_short | Resurgence of Severe Challenging Behavior and Schedule Thinning with the Terminal Schedule Probe Method |
| title_sort | resurgence of severe challenging behavior and schedule thinning with the terminal schedule probe method |
| topic | functional analysis multiple schedule challenging behavior resurgence schedule thinning |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/3/382 |
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