# A Behavioral Economic Approach to Improving Communication Variability and Treatment Efficacy

> **NIH NIH R03** · UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $81,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Severe destructive behaviors (SDB) are fairly common among individuals with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD). Functional Communication Training (FCT) is a commonly used reinforcement-
based intervention for SDB. Although the majority of FCT research has focused on response-
specific variables (i.e., effort) that affect outcomes, additional procedural variables have
received increased attention. For example, researchers have evaluated the presence and
impact of treatment relapse (i.e., resurgence) during FCT generalization. Furthermore, invariant
responding may affect maintenance of therapeutic outcomes during FCT when treatment
challenges are introduced (i.e., schedule thinning). The majority of research on invariant
responding and resurgence is either translational in nature or has limited application for
treatment. Thus, additional research is warranted. The aims of this project are to (a) identify
functionally equivalent communication responses that will promote varied communication
responding, (b) evaluate the effects of progressively leaner schedule requirements on varied
communication, and (c) demonstrate that introducing multiple communication responses, and
altering reinforcement schedules using principles of behavioral economics, will mediate invariant
responding and the variables that relate to resurgence of SDB. The study includes 4 phases for
the target group: (a) assessment of client preference and proficiency for communication
responses, (b) an initial FCT intervention, (c) a progressive-ratio assessment, and (d) a
treatment-challenge evaluation. Additionally, a comparison group will be exposed to phases a,
b, and d. Thus, the comparison group will not be exposed to multiple communication responses
or leaner schedules of reinforcement to further examine the effects of these variables on varied
communication and resurgence of SDB.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10006330
- **Project number:** 5R03HD097412-02
- **Recipient organization:** UPSTATE MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Nicole M DeRosa
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $81,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10006330

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10006330, A Behavioral Economic Approach to Improving Communication Variability and Treatment Efficacy (5R03HD097412-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10006330. Licensed CC0.

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