Behaviour Modification Chapter 14

What immediate consequence might account for the efectiveness of the delayed reinforcement contingency applied to Tommy's talk-outs

An Immediate consequence was likely praise from the teacher which reinforced his improved performance

Explain why the terms DR0 and DRO are interchangeable

Because differential reinforcement occurs at a rate of 0. the O and the 0 both represent 0

What is the difference between DRI and DRA?

DRI involves reinforcing a behavior that is incompatible with the problem behavior, whereas DRA involves reinforcing a behavior that may not be incompatible with the problem behavior.

Explain what a DRI schedule is. Give an example that is not in this chapter.

Differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviours (DRI) is to decrease a target response by withholding reinforcers and by reinforcing an incompatible response.

Explain, in general, what a DRL schedule is. Give an example of one that occurs in everyday life and that is not in this chapter.

Differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL) is a schedule of reinforcement in which a reinforcer is presented only if a particular response occurs at a low rate e.g. a child asking a parent to get ice cream. If the child asks less frequently they will be reinforced with ice cream, but if the child asks at a high frequency the parent is less likely to provide reinforcement due to pestering.

Explain what a DRO schedule is. Give an example of one that occurs in everyday life.

Differential reinforcement of zero responding (DRO) is a schedule in which a reinforcer is presented only if a desired response does not occur during a specified period of time. e.g. Two siblings are praised if there has been no fighting for an interval of one hour.

Describe in some detail an example, which is not in this chapter, of how a DRO might be useful in treating a behaviour problem

If a teenager constantly skips school, they would be able to use the family car on the weekend provided they do not skip school all week.

Describe how saying a rule to himself may have influenced Tommy's decreased talk-outs

Immediately after a few minutes of working quietly, Tommy may have told himself how much fun he was going to have during his extra playtime. Tommy's saying the rule was eventually reinforced by the free play which confirmed the rule

What is a procedural difference between a spaced-responding DRL and an FD schedule?

In a FD schedule a response must occur continuously throughout an interval to get reinforcement Whereas an SR-DRL

How is space-responding DRL procedurally similar and different from an FI schedule?

In an FI schedule, responding during the interval has no effect on the reinforcement Whereas if there is a response during the interval of a space-responding DRL, reinforcement is withheld and the interval restarts Both schedules require the target response to occur after the interval is over for reinforcement to occur

Describe in some detail an example, which is not in this chapter, of how DRL would be useful in treating a behaviour problem. Indicate which type of DRL is to be used

Jonny will frequently raise his hand to ask questions in class (every 2 minutes) Although asking questions in class is a good thing, when Johnny does it in excess it disrupts the flow of the lesson. SR-DRL is to be used since this behaviour is desirable in moderation

Describe briefly, point by point. how Tommy's talking out in class was reduced?

Phase 1 - baseline, Tommy averaged one talk-out every 9 minutes Phase 2- treatment, Tommy was told the definition of a talk out and that he would be allowed 5-minutes of free playtime if at the end of a 50 minute session he had made 3 or fewer talk outs. Tommy averaged one talk out every 54 minutes Phase 3 - Follow-up,Tommy was told the reinforcement schedule was removed and he averaged one talk-out every 33 minutes

Define space-responding DRL, and give an example.

Requires that a specified behaviour not occur during a specified interval, and after the interval has passed, an instance of that behaviour must then occur in order for a reinforcer to occur. e.g. a student shouts out the correct answers in class. On this schedule When he shouts out after 15 minutes of the target response he is immediately reinforced; if he shouts out within the 15 minutes of the last time he shouted out he is not reinforced and the 15 minute interval restarts.

What is the difference in the use of the schedules of reinforcement in Chapter 10 compared to the differential reinforcement procedures in this chapter?

Schedules of reinforcement in Chapter 10 are used to increase and maintain operant behaviour Differential Reinforcement schedules are used to decrease operant behaviour

Define limited-responding DRL. Give an example

Specifies a maximum allowable number of responses during a certain time interval in order for a reinforcer to occur e.g. 50 minutes was specified and a reinforcer occured at the end of the interval if it contained three or fewer talk-outs.

What happens if the frequency of reinforcement on DRL, DRO, DRI or DRA is too low or is decreased too rapidly

The problem behaviour may have a resurgence if the individual is not being reinforced for low or no responses. DOUBLE CHECK

Describe a pitfall of DRL for people who are ignorant of its effects. GIve an example.

The tendency to unknowingly reinforce a desirable behaviour on a DRL e.g. a child does well in school and the teacher reinforces this behaviour, when the rate of behaviour increases the teacher will expect a high rate of this behaviour and reinforcement will gradually decrease, eventually the child learns that reinforcement occurs when performance is at a low rate.

Why might a DRI schedule sometimes be chosen instead of a DRO schedule?

You may choose a DRI schedule instead of a DRO schedule because with a DRO you wouldn't be in control of the behaviour that you are reinforcing since you are reinforcing the absence of a particular behaviour, so any other behaviour may occur.