View in EDS HTML Full Text PDF Full Text

A Practitioner Guide for Schedule Thinning Following Functional Communication Training.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: A Practitioner Guide for Schedule Thinning Following Functional Communication Training.
Authors: Akers, Jessica S. (AUTHOR), Davis, Tonya N. (AUTHOR), Wicker, MacKenzie (AUTHOR), Exline, Emily (AUTHOR)
Source: Journal of Behavioral Education. Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p969-998. 30p.
Subjects: Scheduling, Reinforcement (Psychology), Behavior modification, Human behavior, Decision support systems
Abstract: Schedule thinning following functional communication training is an important element of behavior analytic interventions targeting the reduction of challenging behavior. We systematically searched the literature for all applications of schedule thinning following functional communication training and identified three primary thinning techniques. These schedule thinning techniques include multiple schedules, chained schedules, and delay-to-reinforcement. We further analyzed the highly effective applications, meaning only those with a 90% reduction in challenging behavior, for specific procedural details. Across multiple schedules, chained schedules, and delay-to-reinforcement, there are a variety of procedures and modifications which can be difficult to navigate. Thus, we developed a decision-making guide for selecting a schedule thinning technique and a separate guide for each of the three techniques. Each individual guide includes procedural information such as reinforcement intervals, thinning criteria, and terminal schedules. We believe that this guide will aid practitioners in effectively implementing schedule thinning with their clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Behavioral Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: pbh
DbLabel: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
An: 189389696
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: A Practitioner Guide for Schedule Thinning Following Functional Communication Training.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Akers%2C+Jessica+S%2E%22">Akers, Jessica S.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Davis%2C+Tonya+N%2E%22">Davis, Tonya N.</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wicker%2C+MacKenzie%22">Wicker, MacKenzie</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Exline%2C+Emily%22">Exline, Emily</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Behavioral+Education%22">Journal of Behavioral Education</searchLink>. Dec2025, Vol. 34 Issue 4, p969-998. 30p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scheduling%22">Scheduling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Reinforcement+%28Psychology%29%22">Reinforcement (Psychology)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Behavior+modification%22">Behavior modification</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Human+behavior%22">Human behavior</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Decision+support+systems%22">Decision support systems</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Schedule thinning following functional communication training is an important element of behavior analytic interventions targeting the reduction of challenging behavior. We systematically searched the literature for all applications of schedule thinning following functional communication training and identified three primary thinning techniques. These schedule thinning techniques include multiple schedules, chained schedules, and delay-to-reinforcement. We further analyzed the highly effective applications, meaning only those with a 90% reduction in challenging behavior, for specific procedural details. Across multiple schedules, chained schedules, and delay-to-reinforcement, there are a variety of procedures and modifications which can be difficult to navigate. Thus, we developed a decision-making guide for selecting a schedule thinning technique and a separate guide for each of the three techniques. Each individual guide includes procedural information such as reinforcement intervals, thinning criteria, and terminal schedules. We believe that this guide will aid practitioners in effectively implementing schedule thinning with their clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Behavioral Education is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=pbh&AN=189389696
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1007/s10864-024-09558-4
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 30
        StartPage: 969
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Scheduling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Reinforcement (Psychology)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Behavior modification
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Human behavior
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Decision support systems
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: A Practitioner Guide for Schedule Thinning Following Functional Communication Training.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Akers, Jessica S.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Davis, Tonya N.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Wicker, MacKenzie
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Exline, Emily
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Dec2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 10530819
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 34
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Behavioral Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1