Types of Intermittent Reinforcement to Decrease Behavior

1. Types of Intermittent Reinforcement to Decrease Behavior Chapter 7

2. Purpose • Decrease or eliminate responses by applying reinforcement

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

4. Differential Reinforcement of Zero Responding (DRO) • Reinforcer presented only if response does not occur within interval • If response occurs, timing of interval starts again • Differential reinforcement of other responding – reinforced 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

5. Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Responding (DRI) • Similar to DRO, but specify an incompatible response • Undesired response is not possible when engaged in the incompatible response • Reinforce incompatible response

6. Differential Reinforcement of Alternate Behavior (DRA) • Extinction of undesirable behavior • Reinforcement of other, topographically dissimilar behavior (not necessarily incompatible one)

7. 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

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