Research Symposium Program - Individual Details

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5th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, April 17, 2025

Reagan Hodges

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BIO

Reagan Hodges has been a Registered Behavior Technician since July of 2024. She is a 2025 Graduate of Troy University with a BS in Psychology and a minor in Applied Behavior Analysis. She is currently a graduate student at Florida State University working on her MS in Psychology-Applied Behavior Analysis.

Decreasing Fingernail and Skin Picking During Academic Activities Through Replacement Behaviors

Authors: Reagan Hodges, Leah Koehler, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Student Major: Psychology ABA - MS
Mentor: Leah Koehler, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Mentor's Department: Applied Behavior Analysis
Mentor's College: Florida State University
Co-Presenters:

Abstract

This self-management project examines a differential reinforcement of alternative behaviors (DRA) procedure aimed to decrease fingernail and skin picking during academic activities. The student self-recorded all instances of the target behavior and hypothesized the behavior to be automatically reinforced. Intervention consisted of having the student engage in the alternative behavior of playing with putty. The results found that the putty served as an effective alternative behavior to fingernail and skin picking, evidenced by a decrease in fingernail and skin picking.

Keywords: Self-Management, Differential Reinforcement, Skin Picking