An evaluation of the types of attention that maintain problem behavior.

Kodak et al. (2007) ran a functional analysis to see if different kinds of attention keep problem behavior alive. They tested three types: general praise, behavior-specific praise, and playful tickles. Each type was given alone so the team could spot which one really fed the behavior.

Sessions looked like standard FAs, but the ‘attention’ condition changed each time. No extra meds, toys, or tasks were added. The goal was simple: find out if ‘attention’ is too broad a label.

Different attention forms produced different amounts of problem behavior. Behavior-specific praise and tickles kept the behavior high, while general praise did far less. The team showed that the form of attention, not just its presence, matters.

In short, not all social praise is equal. You may need to test each flavor separately before you write your behavior plan.

Dicesare et al. (2005) extends this idea by showing that a child’s medication status can flip whether attention even works as a reinforcer. When the child took methylphenidate, the same attention that once maintained disruption no longer did. So both the type of attention and the child’s biological state shape FA results.

Melanson et al. (2025) offers a quicker, modern route. Their sensitivity tests still pull out social reinforcers, including attention, but take far less time than a full FA. Think of it as a streamlined grandchild of Tiffany’s detailed approach.

Jolliffe et al. (1999) sounds like a contradiction at first: they found FAs unreliable across weeks. Tiffany’s work answers that worry by saying, ‘Check that you tested the right reinforcer in the first place.’ Tiny condition tweaks, like splitting attention into sub-types, can boost stability.

If you run one ‘attention’ condition and see no effect, do not assume attention is off the hook. Break it apart: try labeled praise, hugs, jokes, even reprimands. One of them may be the true fuel. Also, re-test after med changes, and consider a brief sensitivity test if time is short. These small moves sharpen your FA and save weeks of guesswork.