The use of precision requests to decrease noncompliance in the home and neighborhood: A case study

To decrease the noncompliance of a child with disabilities in the home and community, a precision request procedure was examined and evaluated in the home and community. Precision requests employed the following format: “Please (requested behavior).” The child was given 10 seconds to start to comply. If the child complied, praise, attention and access to her favorite toy was allowed. If she did not comply, a second command was issued: “You need to (requested behavior).” If this command were followed within 10 seconds by compliance, praise was given. If the child did not comply, she lost her stuffed toy for three minutes. The use of a precision request format was evaluated with an ABAB single subject design. The frequency of child noncompliance was recorded by parents and other child care providers during three separate times in the day (morning, afternoon, and evening). During both baseline conditions noncompliance was high. When precision requests were employed noncompliance decreased. The difference in compliance for baseline and the precision request procedure is statistically significant. Implications for employing removal of positive reinforcers and precision requests for children at home and in the community are discussed.