A comparison of rate and latency during the Interview-Informed Synthesized Contingency Analysis (IISCA)

This study reanalyzes the Latency-Based Interview-Informed Synthesized Contingency Analysis (IISCA) as a more efficient alternative to the traditional Rate-Based IISCA for assessing challenging behaviors in neurodivergent populations. Functional analysis is a gold standard in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), yet conventional rate-based methods often require repeated exposures to challenging behavior, raising ethical concerns regarding safety and trauma. Latency-based IISCA offers a solution by focusing on the time to the first response rather than the response rate, thereby reducing exposure to evocative situations. This research builds upon prior findings with Brazilian participants, extending the approach to a U.S. cohort with autism and other developmental disabilities. Results demonstrated consistent functional control across both groups, with latency-based IISCA strongly aligning with rate-based outcomes, reducing analysis duration by 51% and behavioral occurrences by 86%. Evaluations by expert researchers indicated that the latency-based IISCA was safe, effective, and socially valid, with high ratings for acceptability and efficiency. These findings highlight the generalizability of latency-based IISCA, supporting its adoption as a potentially more compassionate assessment method that prioritizes client well-being while maintaining analytic rigor. Many aspects of this approach align with contemporary calls for trauma-informed ABA practices, underscoring its potential to serve as a preferred method for behavior analysts working with diverse populations. Future research should explore broader applications of latency-based IISCA across various behavioral topographies and clinical settings.