Behavior Reduction
An RBT begins planned ignoring for attention-maintained yelling exactly as written in the plan. In the first two sessions, the yelling becomes louder, longer, and more frequent. The RBT should:
- Areturn to the previous schedule of attention until the behavior settles
- Bcontinue to withhold attention as written and record the changes on the data sheet
- Cadd a time-out procedure until the yelling returns to baseline levels
- Dgive a brief warning that the yelling will be ignored if it continues
Not A. Returning to the previous attention schedule would reinforce the yelling and change the BCBA's plan without authorization.
B is right. A temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, or variability of behavior when reinforcement is discontinued is an extinction burst, and the RBT continues the written plan while documenting what happens. A warning is attention and would likely reinforce the yelling. Returning to the previous schedule or adding time-out would change the intervention, which is the supervisor's decision, not the RBT's.