Behavior Modification Chapter 15: Differential Reinforcement

Stereotype Behavior

Repetitive behaviors that do not serve any social function for the individual. They are often called self-stimulatory behaviors because they function to produce some form of sensory stimulation for the individual.

Full-session DRL

A differential reinforcement of low rate 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 behavior.

Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA)

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

Differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL)

A procedure in which a lower rate of 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.

Differential Reinforcement of other behavior (DRO)

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.

Reinforcer Assessment

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.

Preference Assessment

A process of identifying reinforcers for an individual that involves presenting potential reinforcer and measuring whether the individual approaches, manipulates, or consumes the item. Can be conducted in a least three different ways, single stimulus assessment, paired stimulus assessment, and multiple stimulus assessment.

Differential reinforcement of communication (DRC)

A type of DRA procedure in which a communication response is reinforced to replace the problem behavior. Also called functional communication training.

Differential reinforcement of an incompatible behavior (DRI)

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

Interval DRL

A type of differential reinforcement of low rate 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.

Spaced-Responding

A type of differential reinforcement of low rates of responding procedure in which the reinforcer is delivered when a 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 reset. The interval between responses is called the interresponse time.

Whole Interval DRO

A type of differential reinforcement of other behavior 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.

Momentary DRO

A type of differential reinforcement of other behavior 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. Typically not effective unless it follows the use of whole-interval DRO procedure.

Multiple Stimulus Assessment

An array of potential reinforcers is presented to the individual (for example, 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 time (with the stimuli in different locations on the table each time) to identify the order in which the stimuli are chosen.

Single Stimulus Assessment

Each potential reinforcer (from an array of potential reinforcers) is presented (i.e. put on a table in front of the 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.

Interresponse Time (IRT)

The time between the occurrence of consecutive responses.

Paired Stimulus Assessment

Two potential reinforcer (from an array of potential reinforcer) are presented to the individual and the researcher records which stimulus the individual approaches. Each stimulus is presented with every other stimulus multiple times that the individual approaches each stimulus, indicating which stimuli are likely to be reinforcers.