PSYB38 - Differential Reinforcement

Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviour (DRA)

a procedure for decreasing a problem behaviour by reinforcers a functionally equivalent alternative behaviour to replace the problem behaviour

Preference Assessment

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

o   Can be conducted in at least three different ways

§  Single stimulus assessment

§  Paired stimulus assessment

Multiple stimulus assessment

Reinforcer Assessment

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

Single Stimulus Assessment

each potential reinforcer is presented, one at a time, to see whether the individual approached the stimulus or not

o   After each stimulus is presented numerous times, the researcher calculates the percentage of time that the individual approach teach stimulus to indicated which stimuli are likely to be reinforcers

Paired Stimulus Assessment

two potential reinforcers are presented to the individual approaches

o   Each stimulus is presented with every other stimulus multiple time and the researcher calculate the percentage of times that the individual approaches each stimulus, indicating which stimuli re likely to be reinforcers

Multiple Stimulus Assessment

An array of potential reinforcers is presented to the individual, and the researcher records which potential reinforcer the individual chooses first

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

o   The stimulus in turn is removed from the array and process continues until the individual has approached or chosen all stimuli

Differential Reinforcement of an Incompatible Behaviour (DRI)

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

Differential Reinforcement of Communication (DRC)

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

o   AKA: functional communication training

Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviour (DRO)

A procedure in which the reinforcer is delivered after intervals of time which the problem behaviour does not occur

o   Reinforcing the absence of the behaviour

Whole-Interval DRO

problem behaviour must be absent throughout the entire interval of time for the reinforcer to be delivered

Momentary DRO

reinforcer is delivered if the person if refraining from the problem behaviour at the end of the DRO interval

o   Problem behaviour does not have to absent throughout the interval for the reinforcer to be delivered

Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Responding (DRL)

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

o   Used when goal is to decrease the behaviour

Full Session DRL

reinforcer is delivered if fewer than a specified number of responses occur in a specific period

Spaced Responding DRL

reinforcer is delivered when response are separated by a specific time interval

o   If a response occurs before the interval has ended, the reinforcer is not delivered and the interval is reset

Stereotypic Behaviour

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

Interresponse Time (IRT)

the time between the occurrence of consecutive responses