The Practitioner Scientist Episode 3:
Exploring a Critique of Synthesized Contingencies with Billie Retzlaff

Show notes: Countless function-based interventions have been designed by behavior analysts who initially conducted an isolated functional analysis (FA) over the past 40 years. Over the last five years, researchers have suggested that a FA variation called the Interview-Informed Synthesized Contingency Analysis (IISCA) may be an alternative assessment that can benefit practitioners and the learners they serve when individualizing Skill-Based Treatment (SBT). Dr. Billie Retzlaff has conducted many functional analyses and function-based interventions for learners in clinical and school settings, but has not yet encountered a situation in which an IISCA would be clinically beneficial in her judgement. Furthermore, Dr. Retzlaff and her colleagues hypothesized that synthesizing contingencies within a FA would lead to the iatrogenic effect of a learner’s behavior being evoked in the presence of novel establishing operations and discriminative stimuli, and that novel functional reinforcers would be induced for the target behavior. In this episode’s interview, Dr. Retzlaff discusses her 2020 article from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis entitled “A translational evaluation of potential iatrogenic effects of single and combined contingencies during functional analysis.” Dr. Retzlaff tested this hypothesis by designing and executing a translational evaluation in which isolated-contingency FAs were used before and after a Synthesized Contingency Analysis (SCA) to determine if reinforcer induction occurred as a product of the SCA. Additionally, Dr. Retzlaff provides take-away points from this article, highlights key concerns with the IISCA and SCA, and provides recommendations for what steps practitioners can take as alternatives to the synthesis of contingencies in assessment.

Special Guest:
Billie J. Retzlaff, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Intermediate District #917 BCBA, [email protected]
Follow her on ResearchGate at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Billie-Retzlaff

Hosts:
John Staubitz, VKC-TRIAD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, [email protected]
Will Martin, Autism in Motion Clinics, [email protected]

Article Citation:
Retzlaff, B.J., Fisher, W.W., Akers, J.S. and Greer, B.D. (2020), A translational evaluation of potential iatrogenic effects of single and combined contingencies during functional analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 53: 67-81. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.595

Functional Communication Training (FCT) is an evidence-based treatment through which problem behavior is replaced with communication. Dr. Mahshid Ghaemmaghami has implemented FCT within her practice as a behavior analyst for many years. Given her positive history with FCT as a practitioner, Dr. Ghaemmaghami was curious to learn more about the strengths and limitations of FCT according to the available published data. In this episode’s interview, Dr. Ghaemmaghami discusses her 2021 article from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis entitled “Functional communication training: From efficacy to effectiveness.” Dr. Ghaemmaghami conducted a systematic review of 208 empirical studies of FCT and carefully examined the outcomes of 744 applications of the treatment with 640 study participants. In doing so, she managed to evaluate the degree to which the efficacy and effectiveness of FCT has been established, and provides a clear accounting of the areas of research that need to be addressed by behavior analysts in the future. Additionally, Dr. Ghaemmaghami provides guidance to practitioners on how they can interpret the evidence for FCT and can responsibly and effectively use this treatment in their work with clients.

Featured Guest:
Mahshid Ghaemmaghami, Ph.D., BCBA-D, FTF Behavioral Consulting, [email protected]
Follow her on ResearchGate at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mahshid-Ghaemmaghami

Interviewers:
John Staubitz, VKC- TRIAD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, [email protected]
Will Martin, Autism in Motion Clinics, [email protected]

When behavior analysts seek to treat behavior that is dangerous or disruptive, they often rely upon a functional analysis (FA) to inform intensive individualized treatment. Dr. Joshua Jessel believes that FAs should be safe, informative, acceptable, and rapid, and has contributed significantly to the development and validation of innovative assessment procedures that exemplify these values. In this episode’s interview, Dr. Jessel discusses his 2019 article from Behavioral Interventions entitled “Does analysis brevity result in loss of control? A consecutive case series of 26 single-session interview informed synthesized contingency analyses.” Through a post hoc analysis of the initial test sessions from 26 interview-informed synthesized contingency analyses Dr. Jessel describes the extent to which control over targeted behavior can be demonstrated empirically in as little as 3, 5, or 10 minutes. Additionally, Dr. Jessel shares his practitioner scientist perspective, frames this article within the world of Applied Behavior Analytic (ABA) practice and scientific inquiry, and helps listeners understand the lessons that can be learned from this line of research.

Featured Guest:
Joshua Jessel, PhD, BCBA-D, Department of Psychology, Queens College [email protected]
Follow him on ResearchGate at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joshua-Jessel

Interviewers:
John Staubitz and Will Martin, VKC- TRIAD, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
[email protected] ; [email protected]

Article Citation:
Jessel J, Metras R, Hanley GP, Jessel C, Ingvarsson ET. Does analysis brevity result in loss of control? A consecutive case series of 26 single-session interview informed synthesized contingency analyses. Behavioral Interventions. 2019;1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.1695

Learn more at: https://vkc.vumc.org/vkc/podcast-ps/

Tiffani Dixon, Early Intervention Specialist, discusses the difference between Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and intrauterine substance exposure. She shares common challenges for families dealing with NAS and discusses strategies that can be used to help sooth infants and toddlers with NAS.

Sam Davidson, speaker, author, and entrepreneur, discusses the importance of self-care, servant leadership, and team building in providing higher quality services. He emphasizes the importance of pursing a healthy life balance to reduce stress and the underlying passion and core talents that many early interventionists have that can set them up for success.

TRIAD Educational Consultants, LaTamara Garrett, M.Ed., BCBA and Kristin Dorris, SLP, discuss strategies to increase caregiver engagement and participation while balancing professional coaching and modeling in early intervention. Learn about the 3 main components of practice-based coaching, some specific coaching strategies that can be applied to each of these components, and some of the characteristics of adult learning that are important aspects of caregiver and provider coaching.

Jessica Stollings, speaker, author, and president of ReGenerations, discusses generational differences that can impact perspectives and communication breakdowns that lead to points of friction in the workplace. She shares strategies for improving communication and collaboration across generations and how to use a generational lens to connect with individuals of all generations.

Jennifer Kelly, PT, DPT, discusses the developmental milestones of typical gross motor skills, pre-requisite skills to walking, and insight to what may have caused an overall increase in gross motor delays in infants. She provides some warning signs of atypical development and when to refer a child for a PT evaluation.

Jennifer Henderson, SLP, discusses the developmental milestones of speech and language from birth to three, including examples of receptive language, expressive language, and articulation. She also offers strategies early interventionists can use when working with early language learners.

Dayna Jones, OT, discusses a variety of skills that occupational therapists can target in early intervention such a fine motor, visual-motor, sensory processing, and self-care skills. She also identifies a variety of red flags that might warrant a referral to occupational therapy.

Connie Casha, M.Ed., director of MTSU’s Early Learning Program, discusses the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) on early brain development and how this can influence children later in life. She emphasizes the importance of increasing executive functioning, building strong connections, reducing toxic stress, and the role that early interventionists can play in helping families overcome ACES.