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 Incompatible Behavior (DRI)
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
- 1 response per 15 minutes:
- 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