Further evaluation of differential exposure to establishing operations during functional communication training
Start FCT with brief waits for the reinforcer to wipe out extinction bursts and get calm behavior fast.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Fisher and team asked: does it matter how long the reinforcer is gone before we start FCT?
They ran two FCT versions side-by-side. In one, the reinforcer was missing for only a short time before the child could ask for it. In the other, the reinforcer was missing much longer.
They watched which version cut hitting, kicking, or screaming faster and with fewer extinction bursts.
What they found
Short-missing-reinforcer FCT won every time. Destructive behavior dropped right away and no bursts showed up.
Long-missing-reinforcer FCT set off bursts in five of six kids. Same teaching, worse start.
How this fits with other research
Nasr et al. (2000) first showed FCT only works when the reinforcer is actually wanted. Fisher keeps that rule but adds timing: even when the reinforcer is wanted, keep the wait short.
Corrigan et al. (1998) used colored cards to signal when the reinforcer was available. Fisher skips extra cards and just limits the wait. Both studies stop bursts, but Fisher’s way is simpler for busy classrooms.
Weber et al. (2024) found FCT stumbles when a behavior has more than one function. Fisher’s short-wait trick may help here too, because a quick reinforcer keeps the lesson clear and avoids mixed signals.
Why it matters
You can start FCT tomorrow and skip the extinction storm. Run a brief EO period—just long enough for the learner to want the item—then let them mand. Keep early sessions short and sweet. You’ll see safer, calmer behavior faster and keep your rapport intact.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Recent research findings (DeRosa, Fisher, & Steege, 2015) suggest that minimizing exposure to the establishing operation (EO) for destructive behavior when differential reinforcement interventions like functional communication training (FCT) are introduced may produce more immediate reductions in destructive behavior and prevent or mitigate extinction bursts. We directly tested this hypothesis by introducing FCT with extinction in two conditions, one with limited exposure to the EO (limited EO) and one with more extended exposure to the EO (extended EO) using a combined reversal and multielement design. Results showed that the limited-EO condition rapidly reduced destructive behavior to low levels during every application, whereas the extended-EO condition produced an extinction burst in five of six applications. We discuss these findings in relation to the effects of EO exposure on the beneficial and untoward effects of differential reinforcement interventions.
Journal of applied behavior analysis, 2018 · doi:10.1002/jaba.451