Function-based treatments versus non-function-based treatments for disruptive behaviours

This three-part study compared the efficacy of function-based treatment using the Decision Model to Mystery Motivator treatment (MM) of disruptive behaviours in five thirty-two-to-thirty-four-month-old toddlers with developmental disabilities in inclusive toddler classrooms. In Part 1, a functional assessment was conducted to identify the function of the disruptive behaviour. In Part 2, both function-based and MM treatment were developed and designed for each toddler. In Part 3, both treatments were implemented in the inclusive toddler program during the most problematic naturally occurring activities for each toddler. The findings indicate that the function-based treatments resulted in greater reduction of disruptive behaviours for all five toddlers.