Topic 7

Question 1

Q: What is Differential Reinforcement?

Answer 1

A: An operant training procedure where some behaviors are systematically reinforced while others are not.

Question 2

Q: What are the types of Differential Reinforcement?

Answer 2

A:

1. Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Responding (DRL)
2. Differential Reinforcement of High Rates of Responding (DRH)
3. Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)
4. Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)

Question 3

Q: What is Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Responding (DRL)?

Answer 3

A: A reinforcement strategy used to reduce, but not eliminate, the rate of undesired behaviors by reinforcing lower rates of response.

Question 4

Q: What are some concerns with DRL?

Answer 4

A: It can lead to superstitious behavior, where reinforcement is delivered not because of the behavior but due to a lack of it.

Question 5

Q: What is Differential Reinforcement of High Rates of Responding (DRH)?

Answer 5

A: A reinforcement strategy that increases the rate of desired behavior by only reinforcing responses that occur at or above a certain frequency within a set time period.

Question 6

Q: What is Interval DRL?

Answer 6

A: A form of DRL where reinforcement is delivered if the behavior occurs no more than once per set interval.

Example: A child raises their hand only once per 15-minute interval in class.

Question 7

Q: What is Spaced-Responding DRL?

Answer 7

A: A type of DRL where reinforcement is given if a set amount of time passes between responses.

Example: A child raises their hand only after 15 minutes have passed.

Question 8

Q: What is Full-Session DRL?

Answer 8

A: A form of DRL where reinforcement is provided if responses occur fewer than a specified number of times in a session.

Example: A child raises their hand less than three times per class.

Question 9

Q: What are some examples of DRL?

Answer 9

A:

A rat is reinforced for pressing a lever only if at least 10 seconds have passed since the last press.

A child on a road trip gets ice cream at the end if they ask “Are we there yet?” no more than once per hour.

Question 10

Q: What are the steps for implementing DRL?

Answer 10

1. Identify the target behavior.
2. Evaluate if DRL is the best approach.
3. Determine an acceptable rate of behavior.
4. Choose the appropriate type of DRL (full-session, spaced-responding, or interval).
5. Inform the client of the plan.
6. Implement the treatment and provide feedback.

Question 11

Q: What is Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)?

Answer 11

A: A method where reinforcement is delivered for a desirable behavior while the undesired behavior is put on extinction.

Question 12

Q: What does the acronym DRO stand for in behavior reinforcement?

Answer 12

A: Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior.

Question 13

Q: What is the key principle of Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)?

Answer 13

A: Reinforcement is provided when the target behavior is absent during a set time period.

Question 14

Q: What are the two types of DRO?

Answer 14

1. Whole Interval DRO - The problem behavior must be absent for the whole interval to receive reinforcement.
2. Momentary DRO - The problem behavior must be absent at the end of the interval to receive reinforcement.

Question 15

Q: What are the steps to implementing DRO?

Answer 15

1. Identify the target behavior.
2. Evaluate if DRO is the best procedure.
3. Determine an effective reinforcer.
4. Choose the initial DRO interval.
5. Inform the client once the plan is set.
6. Implement the treatment and provide feedback.

Question 16

Q: What is an example of DRO in practice?

Answer 16

1. A rat receives reinforcement if it does not press a lever for 10 seconds (clock resets if the response is made).
2. A child gets ice cream at the end of a road trip if they do not ask, “Are we there yet?”

Question 17

Q: What is the difference between DRO and DRA?

Answer 17

A:

DRO reinforces the absence of a behavior.

DRA reinforces a specific alternative behavior while putting the undesired behavior on extinction.

Question 18

Q: How can interval length in DRO be adjusted?

Answer 18

If problem behavior occurs frequently, use a short interval.

If problem behavior occurs infrequently, use a long interval.

Question 19

Q: What happens if the undesired behavior occurs during DRO?

Answer 19

A: No reinforcement is delivered, and the interval may reset.

Question 20

Q: What is an example of Differential Reinforcement of High Rates of Behavior (DRH)?

Answer 20

A:

A rat receives reinforcement only if it presses the lever at least ten times within 10 seconds.

A student gets ice cream if they answer at least two questions in class.

Question 21

Q: What is an example of concurrent schedules of reinforcement?

Answer 21

A:
A child who wants attention has two options:

Colors on walls → No reaction

Colors in a coloring book → Praise and attention
This encourages the child to choose the desired behavior.

Question 22

Front: What is extinction (or devaluation) of undesirable behavior?

Answer 22

Back: Identifying and withholding the reinforcer(s) maintaining undesirable behavior to reduce its occurrence.

Question 23

Front: What is the first step in extinction of undesirable behavior?

Answer 23

Back: Identify the reinforcer(s) maintaining the behavior through functional assessment and testing.

Question 24

Front: When can extinction be used as normal?

Answer 24

Back: When the reinforcer can be withheld by the change agent.

Question 25

Front: What is the best time to prompt desirable behavior?

Answer 25

Back: Before undesirable behavior occurs, not after.

Question 26

Front: When should prompting occur?

Answer 26

Back: When important establishing operations (EOs) and discriminative stimuli (SDs) are present.

Question 27

Front: What do EOs and SDs do in prompting?

Answer 27

Back: - EOs make reinforcers more appealing. SDs signal that the behavior will be reinforced.

Question 28

Front: How should desirable behavior be reinforced?

Answer 28

Back: Immediately and consistently, with contingency and contiguity.

Question 29

Front: What should be done if desirable behavior is rare?

Answer 29

Back: Prompt the behavior to make it more likely to occur.

Question 30

Front: What is Multiple Stimulus Assessment without Replacement?

Answer 30

Back: Presenting potential reinforcers in an array, removing chosen items, and repeating with varied orderings.

Question 31

Front: What is the purpose of Multiple Stimulus Assessment without Replacement?

Answer 31

Back: To determine which reinforcers are most preferred by observing the order in which they are chosen.

Question 32

Front: What is Paired Stimulus Assessment?

Answer 32

Back: Presenting reinforcers in pairs and recording selection percentages.

Question 33

Front: What is Single Stimulus Assessment?

Answer 33

Back: Presenting each reinforcer individually, recording whether it was approached, and calculating approach percentages.

Question 34

Front: How can effective reinforcers be identified?

Answer 34

Back: - Use reinforcers maintaining undesirable behavior. Observe what the subject enjoys. Ask the subject what they like.

Question 35

Front: Why should desirable behavior require less effort than undesirable behavior?

Answer 35

Back: To increase the likelihood of desirable behavior occurring, especially if extinction isn't possible.

Question 36

Front: What are the steps in using Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)?

Answer 36

Back: 1. Identify target behaviors to increase and decrease. 2. Evaluate if DRA is the best procedure. 3. Determine an effective reinforcer. 4. Decide on extinction or devaluation methods. 5. Inform the client of the plan. 6. `Implement treatment and provide feedback.

Question 37

Front: What conditions must be met to use DRA?

Answer 37

Back: 1. A desirable behavior must exist to reinforce. 2. The undesirable behavior must be capable of being extinguished. 3. If extinction is not possible, the reinforcer must be devalued or overpowered.