We evaluated a noncontingent reinforcement procedure that involved initially providing three subjects with signaled, continuous access to the functional reinforcer for aggression and slowly increasing the amount of time subjects were exposed to the signaled unavailability of the reinforcer. Additionally, alternative potential reinforcers were available throughout the sessions. Results showed immediate and substantial reductions in aggression for all three subjects. The clinical utility of this intervention is discussed, and future research directions are recommended.

Response to name (RTN) is an early developmental milestone, deficits in which are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This study extends previous research by evaluating an assessment and treatment model for RTN with 13 children with ASD. For all participants, phase 1 was a naturalistic social baseline. The 9 children who did not meet mastery criteria in phase 1 underwent a series of treatment conditions in phase 2. In phase 3, treatment components were removed, and generalization was assessed. Results indicated that tangible reinforcement procedures can produce rapid increases in discriminated RTN, sometimes without prompts. The total number of trials to mastery were reduced in the current study relative to previous research. Results also provide preliminary evidence to suggest that the phase 1 baseline condition may produce distinct patterns of RTN that could be used to predict treatment effects and further reduce trials to mastery in future work.

Performance feedback is a common organizational behavior management intervention (Gravina et al., 2018) that typically yields consistent effects when combined with other procedures (Alvero et al., 2001). A noteworthy characteristic that might affect feedback effectiveness is timing (Lechermeier & Fassnacht, 2018). Given the frequent use and practical utility of feedback, we assessed feedback preference across three feedback timing options: after step, after trial, and after session. We used a direct-choice paradigm to assess feedback timing preferences with undergraduate students completing two multistep computerized tasks. The data obtained suggest that most participants shifted their preference from relatively proximal (e.g., after step) to distal feedback (e.g., after session) as they acquired the tasks. A few participants' preferences varied despite increases in performance. We discuss implications based on the current findings and future directions for research.

Momentary time sampling has been used to evaluate quality of care in several settings, including residential facilities and nursing homes. Given the growing number of behavior analysts providing center-based applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy to children with autism spectrum disorders, ABA centers are a new area in which assessing environmental indicators that might be correlated with the quality of care could be very important. Therefore, we extended these procedures to an ABA center, where we used momentary time sampling to assess staff behavior, client behavior, client condition, and environmental condition. The results demonstrated that this descriptive assessment can be a useful tool to obtain direct measures of variables that might affect quality of care. The general utility of this assessment, intervention plans for targets identified by this assessment, limitations of the assessment, and directions for future research in this area are discussed. K E Y W O R D S assessment, autism, quality of care, staff behavior, time sampling

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is an extension of the Skinnerian tradition of operant psychology. The focus is on the seven dimensions outlined more than 50 years ago by Baer and colleagues, but the field and the applications have not been static during those 50 years. The social relevance of behavior addressed by ABA ranges from that affecting individuals with severe intellectual disabilities to typically developing children to high‐functioning adults in vastly complex personal and professional environments. Many facets of ABA are considered standards of best practice and have been written directly into federal recommendation or even legislation in the United States. The efficacy and importance of ABA on a cultural level are seen in the growth of the certification process, the development of licensure, and the growth of its parent organization.