CHAPTER 7 Differential reinforcement: Applying ...
CHAPTER 7 Differential reinforcement: Applying reinforcement to a correct response, and no reinforcement when there is no correct response Several different possible applications More complex than simple reinforcement A case of using reinforcement to decrease or eliminate behaviours? Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates: - Differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL): Reinforcer is presented only if a particular response occurs at a low rate only used for tolerable behaviour - Limited-responding DRL: Specifies a maximum number of responses that are allowed during a certain time interval in order for reinforcement to occur useful when the conditions hold that: some of the behaviour is tolerable but less of it is better Ex: Telling a child that if he gets out of his seat 3 or fewer times in an hour, he will get play time - Spaced-responding DRL: Specified behaviour cannot occur during certain time interval; after interval has passed, the behaviour must occur for reinforcement instances of a behaviour must be spaced out over time useful when the behaviour wanted to reduce is actually desirable provided that It doesn’t occur too much eg: a student who always yells out the answer in class deprives others to participate as well eg: reinforcing of slow speech in a student that talks too fast Ex: Getting an eager student to only provide an answer every 15 minutes (allowing others to speak in class too) Differential Reinforcement of Zero Responding: - Differential reinforcement of zero responding (DRO): Reinforcer is presented only if a target behaviour does not occur during a specified time interval If the behaviour occurs, the clock starts over Also called “differential reinforcement of other responding” The length of the time interval should be increased gradually Examples:Reducing nail biting; Reducing self-injurious behaviours
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behaviour: - Differential reinforcement of incompatible responding (DRI): Like DRO, but specifies an incompatible alternative behaviour The undesirable behaviour is literally not possible when engaged in the incompatible behaviour Reinforcement is given for the incompatible behaviour e.g: reinforcing sitting in a chair to reduce running around the classroom Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviour: - Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviour (DRA): Extinction of a problem behaviour combined with the reinforcement of a desirable behaviour (that is not necessarily incompatible per se) Recall: extinction is most effective under this kind of scenario e.g: Ignoring aggressive demands from a student, and reinforcing polite communication Pitfalls of Schedules for Decreasing Behaviour: - Pitfall unique to DRL: tendency to unknowingly reinforce a desirable behaviour on a DRL, thereby causing that desirable behaviour to occur at a low rate rather than reinforcing the behaviour on a schedule that would maintain that behaviour at a high frequency REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) How is a spaced-responding DRL schedule similar to and different from a fixed- interval schedule? •
In both: the first response following a certain period of time receives reinforcement o In spaced-responding DRL the time interval is measured from the previous response, but in FI the time interval is usually measured from the previous reinforcer
•
The impact of responding before the time interval has passed differs in the two schedules o In spaced-responding DRL responding before the time is up causes the clock to start again, but in FI responding before the time is up has no consequences
2) What is one way that a spaced-responding DRL schedule differs from a fixed-duration schedule? •
In spaced-responding DRL, a fixed time must pass in which the response does not occur in order for a response to produce a reinforcer.
•
On an FD schedule, the response must occur continuously for a fixed period of time in order for reinforcement to occur.
3) What is likely to happen if the frequency of reinforcement on DRL, DRO, DRI, or DRA is too low or is decreased too rapidly? •
The behaviour is likely to increase in frequency to its level prior to the introduction of the program.
4) How do the effects of DRL, DRO, DRI, and DRA differ from the effects of the eight intermittent reinforcement schedules discussed earlier? •
Differential reinforcement is used to maintain low or zero rates of a behaviour, whereas the intermittent reinforcement schedules discussed earlier are used to maintain high rates of behaviour.
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behaviour: - Differential reinforcement of incompatible responding (DRI): Like DRO, but specifies an incompatible alternative behaviour The undesirable behaviour is literally not possible when engaged in the incompatible behaviour Reinforcement is given for the incompatible behaviour e.g: reinforcing sitting in a chair to reduce running around the classroom Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviour: - Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviour (DRA): Extinction of a problem behaviour combined with the reinforcement of a desirable behaviour (that is not necessarily incompatible per se) Recall: extinction is most effective under this kind of scenario e.g: Ignoring aggressive demands from a student, and reinforcing polite communication Pitfalls of Schedules for Decreasing Behaviour: - Pitfall unique to DRL: tendency to unknowingly reinforce a desirable behaviour on a DRL, thereby causing that desirable behaviour to occur at a low rate rather than reinforcing the behaviour on a schedule that would maintain that behaviour at a high frequency REVIEW QUESTIONS 1) How is a spaced-responding DRL schedule similar to and different from a fixed- interval schedule? •
In both: the first response following a certain period of time receives reinforcement o In spaced-responding DRL the time interval is measured from the previous response, but in FI the time interval is usually measured from the previous reinforcer
•
The impact of responding before the time interval has passed differs in the two schedules o In spaced-responding DRL responding before the time is up causes the clock to start again, but in FI responding before the time is up has no consequences
2) What is one way that a spaced-responding DRL schedule differs from a fixed-duration schedule? •
In spaced-responding DRL, a fixed time must pass in which the response does not occur in order for a response to produce a reinforcer.
•
On an FD schedule, the response must occur continuously for a fixed period of time in order for reinforcement to occur.
3) What is likely to happen if the frequency of reinforcement on DRL, DRO, DRI, or DRA is too low or is decreased too rapidly? •
The behaviour is likely to increase in frequency to its level prior to the introduction of the program.
4) How do the effects of DRL, DRO, DRI, and DRA differ from the effects of the eight intermittent reinforcement schedules discussed earlier? •
Differential reinforcement is used to maintain low or zero rates of a behaviour, whereas the intermittent reinforcement schedules discussed earlier are used to maintain high rates of behaviour.
