In a functional analysis, what is the name of the condition in which the therapist provides access to a tangible item after problem behavior?

In a functional analysis, what is the name of the condition in which the therapist provides access to a tangible item after problem behavior?

• A. Attention condition
• B. Control condition
• C. Tangible condition
• D. Escape condition

Answer: (C)

In functional analysis, you test what maintains a problem behavior by changing what happens after the behavior. When access to a tangible item is made contingent on the behavior, you’re specifically testing whether the behavior is reinforced by getting a tangible object (like a toy or snack). If the problem behavior increases in this condition, it suggests the function is access to tangibles. This is different from the attention condition, which looks at getting social attention after the behavior, and the escape condition, which tests for avoidance of demands. A control or play-type condition typically provides noncontingent access to items or no programmed consequence to establish a baseline. In the given scenario, the hallmark is giving access to a tangible item following the behavior, so the correct description is the tangible condition.

In functional analysis, you test what maintains a problem behavior by changing what happens after the behavior. When access to a tangible item is made contingent on the behavior, you’re specifically testing whether the behavior is reinforced by getting a tangible object (like a toy or snack). If the problem behavior increases in this condition, it suggests the function is access to tangibles.

This is different from the attention condition, which looks at getting social attention after the behavior, and the escape condition, which tests for avoidance of demands. A control or play-type condition typically provides noncontingent access to items or no programmed consequence to establish a baseline. In the given scenario, the hallmark is giving access to a tangible item following the behavior, so the correct description is the tangible condition.