Instruction in Functional Assessment, 2014a

Instruction in Functional Assessment Chapter 6
Play Condition
These are the standard experimental functional analysis conditions as described by
Iwata, et al., 1994/1982, JABA, 27, 197-209 and Iwata et al., 2000.
Purpose and Rationale:
In the play condition, toys or activities are presented and the therapist interacts socially
with the client. This condition serves as a comparison condition to rule out confounding
variables or that the problem behavior is due to variables present in the attention, tangible,
or demand conditions (e.g., the presence of the therapist, materials, social interaction). The
amount of the client’s problem behavior in the play condition is compared to that in the
other conditions. For example, if across experimental sessions the client’s problem behavior
is consistently better in the play condition compared to that in the attention condition, then
attention positive reinforcement may be maintaining the client’s problem behavior.
Procedure:
The therapist and client are in a room with a variety of toys present. The therapist is
within 3-5 ft of the client and occasionally presents toys, with no demands. The therapist
provides social praise and brief physical contact contingent on appropriate behavior at least
once every 30 s. Any problem behavior is ignored unless the severity is of concern due to
physical harm.
Summary
Purpose
Summary Of Play Condition
Control condition
Therapist + toys
R+ -> Attention
R- ->Ignore
94