GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Functional communication training (FCT) is a function based intervention which increases communication responses that functionally replace abhorrent behaviors. The intervention utilizes differential reinforcement of alternative response procedures to establish alternative responses as a treatment for severe problem behaviors. FCT can involve a variety of communication topographies, and has been implemented with individuals diagnosed with various developmental disabilities. FCT pre-training, the initial training phase, involves placing abhorrent behavior on extinction while using various prompting methods to establish the functional communication response (FCR) in the individual’s repertoire. Establishment of the FCR in the initial phase is critical for response generalization, and maintenance. In a systematic review of behavior analytic literature FCT is commonly used as an alternative response intervention, however much of the literature does not sufficiently report on FCT Pre-training. Literature review findings, implications for future research, and grounds for future research are to be discussed.