differential reinforcement

November 9, 2009

DRO - differential reinforcement of OTHER behavior. If any other behavior

occurs, other than the problem behavior, in the alloted time, then the

individual is reinforced. Example: A child is given praise and a piece of

candy after 15 minutes of engaging in appropriate play, and no problem behavior.

DRA - differential reinforcement of ALTERNATIVE behavior. Reinforce behavior

that may COMPETE with the problem behavior. Example: A child gets a piece of

candy after tapping you and saying " may I have a piece of candy? " , rather than

screaming and/or hitting to get the candy

DRI - differential reinforcement of INCOMPATIBLE behavior. Reinforce behavior

that is physically incompatible with problem behavior. Example: A child is

reinforced for clapping his/her hands together, rather than hitting (child

cannot hit while hands are engaged).

I hope this helps!

November 13, 2009

,That is an interesting point. It is so hard to explain the concept during

parent training as well. I think of the general definition of differential

reinforcement as: when one member of a response class is reinforced and other

members are not. So this would apply to DRL, DRH, DRO, DRI, DRA. I think of

Differential Reinforcement as a behavioral term/procedure.Â

Then there is the process of differentially reinforcing behavior. I think of

differentially reinforcing a behavior as a way of providing reinforcement and

explaining to people to be more excited and provide more reinforcement when the

child does the best response and being less excited and providing less

reinforcement when the child does not do his best response.Â

So differential reinforcement is a procedure used to reinforce one member of a

response class and not others and reinforcement can be provided differentially

based on responding.

I don't know if that is a good explanation but that is how I think about it.

Also, I just wanted to tell you , I love your website! It is very helpful

and informative.

DeLeon, M.S., BCBANavigation Behavioral Consulting " Navigating the world of

behavior, changing the course of people's

lives. " www.navigationbehavioralconsulting.comblog.navigationbehavioralconsulting\

..com

From: Schramm <knospeaba_robert@...>

Subject: Re: [ ] Re:differential reinforcement

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 7:36 AM

Â

This brings up an interesting question for me. I would be curious what

the other BCBA's on this list think.

Differential Reinforcement is often looked at as being the schedule of

reinforcement for Other, Alternative or Incompatable Behaviors. But as Reg

stated here, Isn't it also an appropriate terminology for applying different

levels of reinforcement for different levels or qualities of response?

To me, we are talking about two different things here. One is DRO, DRI, or DRA

but the other is still Differential Reinforcement, isn't it?

What are your thoughts on this. Is the term Differential reinforcement

appropriate for both situations or is one a misuse of the term Differential

reinforcement.

Just curious what you folks thinks.

____________ _________ _________ ___

Schramm, MA, BCBA

Author of Educate Toward Recovery:

Turning the Tables on Autism

www.lulu.com/ knospe-aba

www.knospe-aba. com

____________ _________ _________ ___

" There is no greater testament to character than

the selfless act designed to go unnoticed "

____________ _________ _________ __

From: Reg Reynolds <rmreynoldscogeco (DOT) ca>

@groups .com

Sent: Mon, November 9, 2009 4:15:24 PM

Subject: [ ] Re:differential reinforcement

Reg Reynolds

Some consequences are likely to be more desirable, from the perspective of the

person receiving them, and hence likely to be more reinforcing, than other

consequences. Differential reinforcement refers to providing more desirable

consequences for more desirable behaviours, e.g., for closer approximations to,

or better performance of, the behaviour that you want the person to learn.

November 13, 2009

This came up in one of my courses to become a behavior analyst with Mark Dixon.

He corrected me on something I was calling differential reinforcement that was

technically two schedules of reinforcement with one rich and one lean. True

differential reinforcement he said was when reinforcement no longer followed

behavior A, but did follow behavior B.

Tamara S. Kasper MS/CCC-SLP, BCBA

Speech-Language Pathologist

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of

Schramm

Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:36 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re:differential reinforcement

This brings up an interesting question for me. I would be curious what the other

BCBA's on this list think.