Blending Staff Preference Assessments and Contingent Reinforcement to Enhance Data Collection in a Residential Facility for Adults with Severe Aggressive Behavior

Abstract

The present article details the data collection behavior of residential staff employed in community-based settings for adults with intellectual disabilities and significant behavioral challenges. The staff members who participated in the study were responsible for collecting behavioral data related to episodes of aggressive behavior that were observed in their residential settings. A descriptive analysis data collection system was in place for each of the residences in the study. Individualized preference assessments were performed with a representative staff member from each of the homes. Once a highly preferred item was identified by the staff person, they were able to earn the item that had been identified contingent upon data collection in the house meeting or exceeding 80% completion of their daily data expectations. The assessment and intervention were examined across all three of the residences in the study via a multiple baseline design with a reversal design embedded within one of the legs of the design. The results demonstrated increases in data collection across each of the residences in the study as the intervention was introduced at each of the sites.