Basic Description of Differential Reinforcement

• All applications of differential reinforcement entail reinforcing one response class and withholding reinforcement for another response class
• When used as a reductive procedure:
  • Providing reinforcement for either the occurrence of a behavior other than the problem behavior or a reduced rate
  • Withholding reinforcement as much as possible for the problem behavior

 Forms of Differential Reinforcement

• For decreasing behavior:
  • DRI
  • DRA
  • DRO
  • DRL

Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior

• • Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI)
    • Practitioner reinforces a behavior that cannot occur simultaneously with the problem behavior and withholds reinforcement following any instances of the problem behavior
    • Behavior that gets reinforced and the one placed on extinction are mutually exclusive

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior

• Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)
  • Practitioner reinforces occurrences of a behavior that provides a desirable alternative to the problem behavior but is not necessarily incompatible with it
  • NOT topographically incompatible with the target behavior (both can occur at the same time)

Guidelines for Using DRI/DRA

• Select incompatible/alternative behavior
  • Behavior should already exist in learner’s current repertoire
  • Behavior should require equal (or less) effort than the problem behavior
  • Behavior should already be emitted at a rate that provides sufficient opportunity for reinforcement
  • Behavior should be likely to be reinforced in the natural environment
• Select reinforcers that are powerful and can be delivered consistently
  • Don’t assume something will function as a reinforcer
  • Consider motivating operations
  • Same consequence maintaining problem behavior is often effective
  • Consistency is key!
• Reinforce incompatible/alternative behavior immediately and consistently
  • Use a CRF schedule initially
  • Gradually thin once incompatible/alternative behavior is firmly established
• Withhold reinforcement for the problem behavior
  • Maximizing the difference between rates of reinforcement entails withholding all reinforcement for the problem behavior
  • In an ideal world:
    • Alternative/Incompatible = ALWAYS
    • Problem = NEVER
• Combine DRI/DRA with other procedures
  • DRI/DRA do not specifically provide consequences for problem behavior
  • Not to be used alone with behavior that is destructive, dangerous, or interferes with health and safety

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior

• Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)
  • A practitioner delivers a reinforcer whenever the problem behavior has not occurred during or at specific times
  • Reinforcement is contingent on the absence or omission of target behavior
    • Differential reinforcement of zero responding
    • Omission training

Four Basic DRO Arrangements

• Fixed-Interval DRO (FI-DRO)
  • A practitioner establishes an interval of time
  • Delivers reinforcement at the end of that time interval if the problem behavior did not occur during the interval
  • Upon any occurrence of the problem behavior, immediately resets the timer to begin a new interval
  • Interval can be increased as behavior improves
• Variable-Interval DRO (VI-DRO)
  • Reinforcement is delivered contingent on the absence of the targeted problem behavior during intervals of varying and unpredictable durations
• Fixed-Momentary DRO (FM-DRO)
  • Same as Fixed-Interval DRO, except reinforcement is contingent on the absence of the problem behavior only when the interval ends, rather than throughout the entire interval
• Variable-Momentary DRO (VM-DRO)
  • Same as Variable-Interval DRO, except reinforcement is contingent on the absence of the problem behavior only when the interval ends, rather than throughout the entire interval

Guidelines for Using DRO

• Recognize the limitations of DRO
  • Does not account for all inappropriate behavior
  • Momentary does not account for behavior that occurs at other times
• Set initial DRO intervals that assure frequent reinforcement
  • Begin with an interval that is equal to or slightly less than the mean baseline inter-response time (IRT)
  • Time/responses = mean IRT
• Do not inadvertently reinforce other undesirable behaviors
  • Deliver reinforcement at the intervals or moments in time specified by the schedule contingent on the absence of the problem behavior and the absence of any other significant inappropriate behaviors
• Gradually increase the DRO interval
  • Increase the interval through a series of initially small and gradual increasing increments
  • Three procedures
    • Increase by constant duration
    • Increase proportionally
    • Change based on learner’s performance
• Extend the application of DRO to other settings and times of day
  • Have teachers, parent, or other caregivers begin to deliver reinforcement
  • Extend to other environments
• Combine DRO with other procedures
  • Treatment package can yield more efficient and effective behavior change
  • Can be a supplement to an intervention that has produced insufficient results

Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Behavior

• Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Responding (DRL)
  • Delivering a reinforcer following a response that is preceded by increasingly longer intervals of time without a response
  • Reinforcement is delivered following the occurrence of a target behavior
  • Used for decreasing rate of responding when total elimination is not desired or necessary

Three DRL Procedures

• Full-Session DRL
  • Reinforcement is delivered at the end of the session if, during the entire session, the target behavior occurred at or below a given criterion
• Interval DRL
  • Total session is divided into a series of equal intervals; reinforcement is provided at the end of each interval in which the target behavior occurred at or below a given criterion
  • Exceeding criterion results in immediate reset
  • Requires continuous monitoring, careful timing, and frequent reinforcement
• Spaced-Responding DRL
  • Reinforcement is delivered following the occurrence of a response that is separated by at least a minimum amount of time from the previous response
  • When reinforcement is contingent on increasingly longer IRTs, response rate will decrease
  • Not likely to completely eliminate behavior in question levitra generico preço

Guidelines for Using DRL

• Recognize the limitations of DRL
  • Not likely to result in quick reduction
  • Not advisable with dangerous behavior
  • By definition draws focus to the inappropriate behavior
• Choose the most appropriate DRL procedure
  • Full-session or interval DRL when complete elimination is acceptable or desired
  • Spaced-responding DRL when lower rates of responding is terminal objective
  • Spaced-responding and interval provide more frequent reinforcement, critical for learners with severe problem behaviors
• Use baseline data to guide the selection of the initial response or IRT limits
  • Use mean number of responses emitted during baseline sessions, or slightly lower than that average, for full-session DRL
  • Use mean IRT for setting interval and spaced-responding DRL
    • 1 response per 15 minutes:
      • Interval = 15 minute intervals with 1 or less responses
      • Spaced-responding = 15 minute IRT or greater for reinforcement
• Gradually think the DRL schedule
  • Full-session: Set based on current performance, or slightly less than the mean emitted during recent sessions
  • Interval: Gradually decrease allowed responses or increase interval
  • Spaced-responding: Adjust IRT based on mean IRT of recent sessions
• Provide feedback to the learner
  • Can enhance effectiveness
  • Spaced-responding provides most accurate feedback
  • Interval provides a high level of feedback as well
  • Full-session with or without feedback
    • With feedback may yield more effective learning, but may result in high rates of misbehavior once criterion is exceeded