Visual Schedules May Not Be Enough

A study published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis looked at whether or not visual schedules were a sufficient intervention to address problem behavior during transitions. They found that they were helpful, but did not have a sufficient impact on problem behaviors without the use of an extinction procedure and differential reinforcement of other behaviors. The treatment package was created based on the results of a functional behavior analysis (FBA) which indicated the problem behaviors were being maintained be avoidance of non-preferred activities and access to preferred activities. This treatment package was effective in reducing the frequency of problem behaviors during transitions. This study brings up a very important point: interventions are maximally effective when they address the function of the behavior.

I’ve used visual schedules extensively with children with autism, but it has never been without addressing the function of the behavior through additional interventions. Too many times, however, I have visited classrooms in which teachers have tried to use visual schedules and found them to be ineffective in decreasing problem behavior. This is typically because the main intervention is the visual schedule without directly addressing the behavior itself.

In the study they identified the functions of the problem behaviors. Then, during intervention, they put the problem behaviors on extinction (ignored problem behavior) and reinforced the absence of problem behavior during transitions with primary reinforcement. In this way they were addressing the function of the behavior, reducing the frequency of behavior and increasing compliance with transitions.