DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSES OF CAREGIVER REPRIMANDS KIMBERLY N. SLOMAN,TIMOTHY R. VOLLMER, NICOLE M. COTNOIR, AND CARRIE S.W. BORRERO UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA JOHN C. BORRERO UNIVERSITY OF THE PACIFIC AND ANDREW L. SAMAHA AND CLAIRE C. ST. PETER UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA We conducted descriptive observations of 5 individuals with developmental disabilities and severe problem behavior while they interacted with their caregivers in either simulated environments (an inpatient hospital facility) or in their homes. The focus of the study was on caregiver reprimands and child problem behavior. Thus, we compared the frequency of problem behavior that immediately preceded a caregiver reprimand to that immediately following a caregiver reprimand, and the results showed that the frequency of problem behavior decreased following a reprimand. It is possible that caregiver reprimands are negatively reinforced by the momentary attenuation of problem behavior, and the implications for long- and short-term effects on caregiver behavior are discussed. DESCRIPTORS: descriptive analysis, problem behavior, reprimands _______________________________________________________________________________ Several studies have shown that the integrity with which caregivers implement treatment may initially be acceptable but often decreases over time (e.g., Mortenson & Witt, 1998; Noell et al., 2000). Allen and Warzak (2000) proposed a functional analysis of the variables that maintain parental nonadherence. The authors listed several possible reasons for treatment nonadherence, including the complexity of the intervention, inadequate training, and weak rule following on the part of the caregiver. The authors also discuss the possibility of competing environmental contingencies such as increases in child problem behavior immediately after implementation of the intervention. The general notion is that a child’s behavior may influence the probability that caregivers will implement the intervention as prescribed. Thus, the effects of child behavior on caregiver behavior would have important implications for treatment implementation in the natural environment. Previous studies have has examined the effects of child behavior on adult behavior. For example Stevens-Long (1973) instructed caregivers to respond to videotaped sequences of an overactive, underactive, or average child. The caregivers then selected a method of discipline for each child. The author found that overactive children were disciplined more severely than average or underactive children. Several addi- tional studies have found that adults are less likely to attend to problem behavior maintained by escape from demands and more likely to attend to problem behavior maintained by attention (e.g., Carr, Taylor, & Robinson, 1991; Taylor & Carr, 1992; Taylor & Portions of this research were supported by Grant HD38698 from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. We thank Jennifer Asmus and Brian Iwata for their comments on earlier drafts. Reprints may be obtained from Timothy R. Vollmer, Department of Psychology, University of Florida, Box 112250, Gainesville, Florida 32611. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2005.118-04 JOURNAL OF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS 2005, 38, 373–383 NUMBER 3(FALL 2005) 373