# Effects of Reinforcer and Extinction Factors on Response Strength of Behavior

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA · 2022 · $456,602

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Functional Communication Training (FCT) is the most widely used treatment approach to address
problem behavior exhibited by individuals with developmental disabilities. This strategy has been
demonstrated to be effective in numerous published studies. However, little research has been conducted to
identify treatment components that may influence the persistence of appropriate communicative behavior and
relapse of problem behavior when implementation of FCT is challenged. It is possible that the amount and type
of reinforcement provided for communicative behavior during intervention and the frequency with which the
communicative behavior and problem behavior encounter extinction during intervention may impact the
maintenance of treatment gains when treatment integrity is challenged (e.g., treatment is not implemented as
designed). Our previous research on FCT maintenance has yielded several findings, two of which are
particularly relevant to the current project. First, response variables such as preference for communication
strategy can affect the persistence of communicative behavior. Second, when FCT is challenged with extinction,
problem behavior often, though not always, re-emerges. Reinforcement related variables have been
demonstrated to impact response persistence in the basic behavioral momentum theory literature and in the
applied literature with respect to the persistence of problem behavior. What is less well understood is how
reinforcement related variables impact appropriate behavior taught in the context of treatment to address
clinically relevant concerns. Similarly, the relapse of previously extinguished behavior has been demonstrated
to occur in the basic and applied literature. Reinforcement related variables have been implicated in the level of
relapse observed in these studies. Less is known regarding the role of extinction during alternative
reinforcement schedules (such as FCT) plays in promoting or mitigating persistence of appropriate responses
and relapse of problem behavior. Clinically, it is important that we design treatments that not only result in the
reduction of problem behavior and the development of appropriate strategies to obtain reinforcers, but that
also produce appropriate behavior that is resilient in the face of challenges to treatment and limit the relapse of
problem behavior during those challenges. The proposed studies will provide more information regarding how
to program reinforcement for communication strategies such that those responses will persist longest when
FCT is challenged, and will begin to clarify the role extinction plays in the maintenance of FCT treatment
effects so that treatment can be designed to minimize relapse.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10470099
- **Project number:** 5R01HD069377-11
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Joel Ringdahl
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $456,602
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2012-09-16 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10470099

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10470099, Effects of Reinforcer and Extinction Factors on Response Strength of Behavior (5R01HD069377-11). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10470099. Licensed CC0.

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