Topic 15: Differential Reinforcement

Question 1

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)

Answer 1

a procedure for decreasing a problem behavior by reinforcing a functionally equivalent alternative behavior (a competing behavior) to replace the problem behavior

Question 2

Preference Assessment

Answer 2

a process of identifying reinforcers for an individual that involves presenting potential reinforcers and measuring whether the individual approaches, manipulates, or consumes the item

preference assessments can be conducted in at least three different ways; single stimulus assessment, paired stimulus assessment, and multiple stimulus assessment

Question 3

Reinforcer Assessment

Answer 3

a process in which an item from a preference assessment is delivered contingent on a behavior to see if the behavior increases

if the behavior increases, the item functions as a reinforcer

Question 4

Single Stimulus Assessment

Answer 4

each potential reinforcer (from an array of potential reinforcers) is presented (i.e. put on a table in front of a child), one at a time to see whether the individual approaches the stimulus or not

after each stimulus is presented numerous times, the researcher calculates the percentage of times that the individual approached each stimulus to indicate which stimuli are likely to be reinforcers

Question 5

Paired Stimulus Assessment

Answer 5

two potential reinforcers (from an array of potential reinforcers) are presented to the individual and the researcher records which stimulus the individual approaches

each stimulus is presented with every other stimulus multiple times and the researcher calculates the percentage of times that the individual approaches each stimulus, indicating which stimuli are likely to be reinforcers

Question 6

Multiple Stimulus Assessment

Answer 6

an array of potential reinforcers is presented to the individual (ex. 8 stimuli are presented on a table in front of the person), and the researcher records which potential reinforcer the individual approaches or chooses first

this stimulus is then removed from the array and the researcher records which stimulus the individual chooses next

that stimulus, in turn, is then removed from the array and the process continues until the individual has approached or chosen all stimuli

the array of stimuli is presented a number of times (with the stimuli in different locations on the table each time) to identify the order in which the stimuli are chosen

Question 7

What are the steps associated with using differential reinforcement of alternative behavior?

Answer 7

1. define the desirable behavior
2. define the undesirable behavior
3. identify the reinforcer
4. reinforce the desirable behavior immediately and consistently
5. eliminate reinforcement for undesirable behaviors
6. use intermittent reinforcement to maintain the target behavior
7. program for generalization

Question 8

Differential Reinforcement of an Incompatible Behavior (DRI)

Answer 8

a type of DRA procedure in which a physically incompatible behavior is reinforced to replace the problem behavior

Question 9

Differential Reinforcement of Communication (DRC)

Answer 9

a type of DRA procedure in which a communication response is reinforced to replace the problem behavior

also called functional communication training

Question 10

Differntial Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)

Answer 10

a procedure in which the reinforcer is delivered after intervals of time in which the problem behavior does not occur

DRO involves reinforcing the absence of the problem behavior

Question 11

What are the steps associated with implementing DRO?

Answer 11

1. identify the reinforcer for the problem behavior
2. identify the reinforcer to use in the DRO procedure
3. choose the initial DRO time interval
4. eliminate the reinforcer for the problem behavior and deliver the reinforcer for the absence of problem behavior
5. reset the interval if the problem behavior occurs
6. gradually increase the interval length

Question 12

Whole-Interval DRO

Answer 12

a type of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) procedure in which the problem behavior must be absent throughout the entire interval of time for the reinforcer to be delivered

most DRO procedures involve whole-interval DRO

Question 13

Momentary DRO

Answer 13

a type of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) procedure in which the reinforcer is delivered if the person is refraining from the problem behavior at the end of the DRO interval

the problem behavior does not have to be absent throughout the entire interval for the reinforcer to be delivered

momentary DRO typically is not effective unless it follows the use of a whole-interval DRO procedure

Question 14

Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Responding (DRL)

Answer 14

a procedure in which a lower rate of a particular behavior is reinforced to decrease the rate of the behavior

used when the goal is to decrease but not necessarily to eliminate a target behavior

Question 15

Full-Session DRL

Answer 15

a differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) procedure in which the reinforcer is delivered if fewer than a specified number of responses occur in a specific period (the session)

it is used to decrease the rate of a behavior

Question 16

Spaced-Responding DRL

Answer 16

a type of differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) procedure in which the reinforcer is delivered when responses are separated by a specific time interval

if a response occurs before the interval has ended, the reinforcer is not delivered and the interval is reseat

the interval between responses is called the inter-response time

Question 17

Interval DRL

Answer 17

a type of differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL) procedure that involves dividing a session into consecutive intervals or time and providing the reinforcer if no more than one response occurred in each interval

Question 18

Stereotypic Behavior

Answer 18

repetitive behaviors that do not serve any social function for the individual

they are often called self-stimulatory behaviors because the function to produce some form of sensory stimulation for the individual

Question 19

Inter-Response Time (IRT)

Answer 19

the time between the occurrence of consecutive responses

Question 20

What is the differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA)?

Answer 20

a procedure in which an undesirable behavior is no longer reinforced (undergoes extinction) and a desirable alternative behavior is reinforced

undesirable behavior will decrease and the desirable behavior will increase

alternative behavior is not necessarily related to undesirable; may be quite arbitrary

Question 21

How is a DRA used?

Answer 21

1. select an alternative behavior that: requires equal or less effort than the problem behavior, is already in the learner’s repertoire if possible, and is likely to be reinforced in the learner’s natural environment
2. select reinforcement: is potent, use the same reinforcer that maintains the problem behavior if possible, can be delivered immediately and consistently, then switch from continuous to intermittent schedule of reinforcement (thinning)

Question 22

What is the differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviors (DRI)?

Answer 22

a procedure in which an undesirable behavior is extinguished, and a behavior that is impossible to do at the same time as the undesirable behavior is reinforced

Question 23

What are some examples of incompatible behaviors?

Answer 23

disruptive classroom behavior vs. completing tasks

crying and squirming in dentist’s chair vs. being quiet and holding still

arriving late to class and being on time for class

Question 24

What is functional communication training?

Answer 24

subtype of DRA, in which alternative behavior is a communication response

also called differential reinforcement of communication (DRC)

can also be considered a subtype called reinforcement of functionally equivalent behavior: an acceptable behavior receives the same consequences as an undesirable behavior

Question 25

What is the differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO)?

Answer 25

a procedure in which an undesirable behavior undergoes extinction, and a reinforcer is delivered after a period of time in which the behavior does not occur

“other” behavior is not the same as “alternate” behavior

also called differential reinforcement of zero responding or differential reinforcement of omission of behavior

Question 26

What can DRO be applied to?

Answer 26

fingernail biting

thumb-sucking

disruptive and self-injurious behaviors

Question 27

What is whole-interval DRO?

Answer 27

reinforcer delivered if problem behavior is absent during the entire interval

Question 28

What is momentary DRO?

Answer 28

reinforcer delivered if problem behavior is absent at the end of the interval

time periods may be fixed to variable

can also be based on permanent-product data (e.g. student gets a sticker on homework that has no doodles on it)

Question 29

What are considerations associated with DRO?

Answer 29

extinction may lead to extinction-induced aggression, which is also undesirable (e.g. student reinforced for not getting out of his seat, but begins throwing spitballs)

for learners with a limited behavioral repertoire, DRO can create a behavior “vacuum” which may end up being filled with the (undesirable) target behavior

DRA or DRI may be better suited to these situations

Question 30

What is the differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL)?

Answer 30

a procedure in which a lower rate of a behavior is reinforced to decrease the rate of that behavior; extinction applied when the rate of behavior exceeds criterion for reinforcement

used when goal is to reduce, not eliminate, the behavior

Question 31

What can DRL be applied to?

Answer 31

sleeping

eating too quickly

asking questions in class

Question 32

What is full-session DRL?

Answer 32

reinforcer delivered if target behavior occurs fewer than a certain number of times during session

used to decrease behavior (but not eliminate it)

Question 33

What is spaced-responding DRL?

Answer 33

reinforcer delivered if a certain amount of time has elapsed since last target behavior

used to pace behavior, spaced by a minimum length of time

Question 34

What is interval DRL?

Answer 34

session is divided into equal time intervals; reinforcer delivered if target behavior occurred no more than once during each interval

used to pace behavior, spaced by an average length of time

Question 35

What are the comparisons between DRL and FI schedules of reinforcement?

Answer 35

in spaced-responding DRL 60”, a reinforcer is delivered after a response if at least 60 seconds has elapsed since the previous response

in FI 60”, a reinforcer is delivered after a response if at least 60 seconds as elapsed since the previous reinforcer was delivered

Question 36

What are the steps associated with DRL?

Answer 36

1. decide whether DRL is appropriate: behavior should eb reduced but not eliminated
2. determine desired rate of behavior
3. choose between full-session or spaced-responding DRL
4. tell client the criterion for reinforcement
5. provide client with feedback/data on their behavior