1. Intermittent Reinforcement to Decrease Behavior
Chapter 7
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2. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Purpose
Decrease or eliminate responses by applying reinforcement
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3. Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates (DRL)
Reinforcing only low rates of responding
Behavior will occur at low rate
Limited Responding DRL
Maximum number of allowable responses during an interval
Useful when:
Some of the behavior is tolerable
Less is better
Spaced-Responding DRL
Behavior does not occur during an interval; after interval passed, behavior must occur for reinforcement
Behavior spaced over time
Want to reduce a desirable behavior (a little is desirable)
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4. Differential Reinforcement of Zero Responding (DRO)
Reinforcer presented only if response does not occur within an interval
If response occurs, timing of interval starts again
Differential reinforcement of other responding – reinforcement for any other behavior
Length of interval increased gradually until:
Behavior occurring very rarely or not at all
A minimum amount of reinforcement is given for nonoccurrence
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5. Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Responding (DRI)
Similar to DRO, but specifies an incompatible response
Undesired response is not possible when engaged in the incompatible response
Reinforce incompatible response
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6. Differential Reinforcement of Alternate Behavior (DRA)
Extinction of undesirable behavior
Reinforcement of other, topographically dissimilar behavior (not necessarily incompatible one)
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7. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Pitfalls
May produce underachievers, as too much correct behavior becomes less and less reinforced
Learn to respond at a lower rate to receive more reinforcement
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8. Guidelines for Effective Use
Decide which type of schedule will be used
Decide which reinforcer to use
Record baseline data
Follow procedures for the selected schedule
If possible, inform the individual of the procedure to be used
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