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Latency-Based FA as Baseline for Subsequent Treatment Evaluation

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Abstract

No research has used latency-based functional analysis (FA) outcomes as baseline data from which to evaluate the effectiveness of subsequent function-based treatments. This approach to analysis calls for the continued collection of latency-based measures for all targeted variables throughout all phases of treatment. We tracked client progress during treatment using latency-based, rate-based, and percentage-of-opportunity measures of relevant behavior and compared graphical representations of each. Visual inspection of all data indicates that changes in variability level and trend of latency-based measures correspond well with said changes in more traditional measures.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Gounah Choi and Destiney Young for their assistance with the conceptualization and implementation of this project. We also thank the Treatment and Research Institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders (TRIAD) for providing clinic space.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

This manuscript is not under review, nor has it been published, elsewhere. This submission has been approved by all authors and by the responsible authorities where the work was carried out. The participant’s guardian provided informed consent for her daughter’s participation in this study before we initiated study-related activities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Carmen E. Caruthers

  2. Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37203, USA

    Joseph M. Lambert, Kate M. Chazin, Emilee R. Harbin & Nealetta J. Houchins-Juarez

Authors
  1. Carmen E. Caruthers
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  2. Joseph M. Lambert
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  3. Kate M. Chazin
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  4. Emilee R. Harbin
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  5. Nealetta J. Houchins-Juarez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joseph M. Lambert.

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Implications for Practitioners

• Decrease probability of high rates of problem behavior during assessment

• Potentially decrease caregiver objection to pretreatment activities

• Increase efficiency of service delivery

• Decrease effort of meaningful data collection

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Caruthers, C.E., Lambert, J.M., Chazin, K.M. et al. Latency-Based FA as Baseline for Subsequent Treatment Evaluation. Behav Analysis Practice 8, 48–51 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-015-0046-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-015-0046-3

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