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Reinforcement is an environmental change that follows a response closely in time, is contingent on the response, and increases the probability of similar responses under similar circumstances.

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1. Natural contingency is unplanned. It is not explicitly arranged and reinforcement happens.

2. Artificial contingency is planned. It is explicitly arranged and reinforcement can be implemented.

3. Schedule of consequences is a rule that specifies which responses will be followed by a consequences and which will not.

4. Schedule of reinforcement is a rule that specifies which responses will be followed by reinforcement and which will not.

5. Continuous Reinforcement (CRF) is a schedule that specifies that every single response is reinforced. Establishes new behavior.

6. Extinction Schedule (EXT) is a schedule that specifies that the behavior is never reinforced.

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Intermittent Schedules are schedules where some occurrences of a response are reinforced and other occurrences of the same response are not and reinforcement is based on the number of responses and the first response after some amount of time.

1. Fixed schedule is a schedule under which the criteria that must be met remains the same. FIXED=SAME

2. Variable schedule is a schedule under which the criteria that must be met changes around some average value. VARY=CHANGES

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Ratio Schedule is a schedule under which reinforcement is delivered after a certain number of responses. RATIO=COUNT.

1. Fixed Ratio (FR) means it is the same number of responses required every time. Reinforcement is delivered after a set number of responses.

2. Variable Ratio (VR) means the number of responses will be an average value (not the same each time). Reinforcement is delivered after a varying number of responses.

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Interval Schedule is a schedule under which reinforcement is delivered for the first response after a period of time since the last reinforcer delivery. INTERVAL=TIME.

1. Fixed interval (FI) is when the amount of time is always the same. The reinforcement is delivered for the first response after a set period of time since the last reinforcer delivery.

2. Variable intervals (VI) are when the amount of time will be an average value (not the same each time). The reinforcement is delivered for the first response after a carrying period of time since the last reinforcer.

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Limited Hold is a restriction on an interval schedule requiring that the response occur within a specified period of time following the interval. Increases rate of response. Does not change the basic response pattern.

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Patterns of Responding include rate and consistency.

1. Fixed Ratio Response Pattern: FR schedules tend to produce very high response rates with little hesitation between responses.

2. Fixed Interval Response Pattern: FI schedules tend to produce scalloped responding where there is a brief pause at the beginning of the interval followed by responding the increases.

3. Variable Ratio Response Pattern: VR schedules tend to produce very high response rates with little hesitation between responses.

4. Variable Interval Response Pattern: VI schedules tend to produce very consistent responses with few pauses between responses at moderate to high rates.

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Time-Based Schedule is a schedule in which a stimulus is delivered or removed at a point in time, independent of responding.

1. Fixed Time (FT): Schedule in which a stimulus is delivered or removed after a set period of time, independent of responding.

2. Variable Time (VR): Schedule in which a stimulus is delivered or removed after a varying amount of time, independent of responding.

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1. Rate i.e. Schedules of Reinforcement.

2. Magnitude describes quantity, duration, or intensity of reinforcement.

3. Quality refers to the high or low preference of the reinforcer.

4. Immediacy refers to how quickly the reinforcer is delivered (temporal contiguity).

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Discontinuation of reinforcement for previously reinforced response. SR+ is when APPETITIVE consequence is withheld. SR- is when AVERSIVE consequence continues.

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A decline in the rate of behavior as a result of the discontinuation of a previously reinforcing consequence.

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An increase in the rate of the response early in the extinction process.

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A change in the form of a response as a result of extinction.

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Reemergence of previously punished behavior following discontinuation of punishment.

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A procedure that uses both reinforcement and extinction (although it can be used without extinction). Reinforcement or extinction follows depending on the behavior (response topography). (i.e.Child gets attention when she gets mom’s attention by saying “mom”, but child gets no attention when screaming).

1. Differentiation results when DR is based on different response topographies (BEHAVIOR). Reinforced topographies increase, non-reinforced topographies decrease. (Differentiation=Different Topographies).

2. Discrimination results when DR is based on the same response in the presence of different antecedent stimulus conditions (ENVIRONMENT). Different stimulus conditions.

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A procedure that uses differential reinforcement to gradually change the topography of a response or the dimension (rate, duration, magnitude) of a response. Shaping reinforces successive approximations of a desired response. Leads to differentiation.

1. Shaping across topographies is used to teach a response that is not yet in the behavior repertoire.

2. Shaping within topographies is used to change a response that is already in the behaver’s repertoire.

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Differential reinforcement of HIGH rates of responding (DRH)

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Differential reinforcement of HIGH rates of responding (DRH)

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Schedule in which reinforcement is provided only if the rate of response is equal to or HIGHER than a specified criterion. Increases response rate.

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Differential reinforcement of LOW rates of responding (DRL)

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Differential reinforcement of LOW rates of responding (DRL)

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Schedule in which reinforcement is provided only if the rate of response is equal to or LOWER than a specified criterion. Decreases response rate.

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1. Inter-response time (IRT) is the time between two successive responses. Reinforcement based on the length of time between responses.

2. Full Session: reinforcement based on response rate during the entire session.

3. Interval: Reinforcement based on response rate during shorter time periods within the session.

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Differential reinforcement of DIMINISHING rates of responding (DRD) 

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Differential reinforcement of DIMINISHING rates of responding (DRD) 

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Schedule in which reinforcement is provided only if the rate of response is equal to or LOWER than a specified criterion AND this criterion is gradually decreased across time. (AKA progressive DRL Schedule)

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Differential reinforcement of PACED responding (DRP)

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Differential reinforcement of PACED responding (DRP)

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Schedule in which a response is reinforced only if the time between the response and the preceding is within a specified range. Based upon the time between responses.

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A schedule under which reinforcement for a response is contingent on that response being different that previous response along some predetermined variable.

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Gradually changing a contingency of reinforcement by increasing the ratio or interval required before reinforcement is obtained.

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A decrease in responding due to rapid increases in schedule requirements.

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A schedule that is thinned for each successive opportunity within a given session, independent of the organism’s behavior.

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A schedule under which the response-to-reinforcer ration is increased incrementally within a given session.

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Delay of Reinforcement AKA Progressive Interval (PI)

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Delay of Reinforcement AKA Progressive Interval (PI)

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A schedule under which the reinforcement interval between the response and the reinforcer is incrementally increased.

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A combination of two or more basic schedules and/or differential reinforcement schedules. AKA Complex Schedules.

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Two or more schedules of reinforcement that operate simultaneously BUT independently of one another, each for a different response

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States that the distribution of responding on concurrent schedules is equal to the relative rate of reinforcement for each response.

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Two or more schedules of reinforcement that alternate and each correlated with a different stimulus (signal).

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Behavioral Contrast is a shift in response rate on an unchanged component of a multiple schedule due to a change in the second component. Behavior increases on one component and decreases on a second component or vice versa.

1. Positive Contrast is when behavior increases in unchanged components with a decrease in changed components.

2. Negative Contrast is when behavior decreases in unchanged components with an increase in changed components.

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Two or more basic schedules of reinforcement that alternate WITHOUT signaling stimuli.

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Two or more schedules of reinforcement operate sequentially and in a specific order (not random), components are SIGNALED, and the terminal reinforcer comes at the end of the entire sequence.

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Two or more schedules of reinforcement operate sequentially and in a specific order (not random), components are NOT signaled, and the terminal reinforcer comes at the end of the entire sequence.

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Two or more schedules of reinforcement. operate simultaneously, and reinforcement is earned when one of the schedule components is completed.

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Two or more schedules of reinforcement operate simultaneously, and reinforcement is earned when both schedule components are completed.

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If I want my partner to cook dinner more often, take out the trash regularly without asking, or make the first pot of coffee in the morning, what is the best way to accomplish this? I could flat out ask them, and for some people that may work. But what if your partner needs a little more (okay, more like a lot more) encouragement? Differential reinforcement to the rescue!

What Is Differential Reinforcement?

Differential Reinforcement (DR) is when I reinforce the behaviour I want to see, and do not provide reinforcement for the behaviours I do not want to see. Reinforcement is the act of providing a reinforcer (this is different for everyone and varies from situation to situation - for some it is a preferred snack, for others perhaps it is an activity, some still it can be verbal praise) to an individual after a behaviour, to increase the future probability of that behaviour happening again under similar circumstances.

Why the future probability? Because I cannot affect something that has already happened. The client has already emitted a behaviour, I cannot after-the-fact influence that behaviour.

Differential Reinforcement (DR) also means that I do not provide reinforcement under those conditions if the desired behaviour does not occur.

How To Use Differential Reinforcement:

When using a strategy like Differential Reinforcement, you are likely to use additional ABA methods as well. One technique I like to use with differential reinforcement is shaping (check back for our future blog post about Shaping).

If, for example, I was working on animal sounds with a vocal client who was scrolling through responses (giving multiple animal sounds in succession), I would only provide their reinforcer (a high five and verbal praise such as "you got it!") if their response immediately followed the S D (within 3 seconds of being asked), and not giving other responses either before or after their response.

Therapist, S D: "what does a cow say?"
Client response: "quack, neigh, moo"
Do not reinforce
Error Correction and Transfer Trial (watch the YouTube video for another example)

Therapist, S D: "what does a cow say?"
Client response within 3 seconds: "moo"
Provide reinforcement: high five and "you got it! A cow does say 'moo'!"

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE DRO DATA SHEET

The Different Types Of Differential Reinforcement:

In true ABA fashion, we love our initialisms. The world of reinforcement procedures is no exception, here we already introduced you to DR (differential reinforcement), these are a few more in the DR family: DRA, DRD, DRH, DRI, DRL, DRO, and DRP.

DRA: Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviour

Providing reinforcement for a predetermined alternative behaviour while withholding reinforcement for the unwanted response.

Using DRA requires that you identify the unwanted behaviour, as well as identifying appropriate alternative behaviours you would like to see in its place. This procedure is a great way to teach adaptive skills to clients.

In the classroom, you want to extinguish shouting out answers and differentially reinforce hand raising for a specific student who calls out answers for teacher attention.
Reinforcement in the form of teacher attention and praise is provided only when the student raises their hand and is called upon to answer the question.
Reinforcement is withheld when the student calls out the answer without being chosen (regardless if their hand is raised or not).

DRD: Differential Reinforcement of Diminishing Rates

Providing reinforcement dependent upon the number of responses meeting or being below a predetermined limit during a specified time frame.

DRD procedures are to be used when the behaviour is appropriate to engage in, but the goal is to see a specific number of responses at a time. This can be used to gradually reduce the number of cookies eaten per day.

You have a client who can finish a box of cookies in one sitting and want to gradually reduce the number of cookies eaten.
A single box of cookies has 30 cookies inside. Your initial goal may be for the client to eat 25 cookies or less in one day. If they eat 25 cookies or fewer in a day, they would receive reinforcement (an identified valuable reinforcer was doing a painting craft).
When this criterion is mastered, the next goal would be a diminished (lowered) rate: 20 cookies or less. This procedure repeats until it meets a predetermined diminished rate.

DRH: Differential Reinforcement of High Rates of Behaviour

Providing reinforcement dependent on the responses meeting or being above a predetermined limit during a specified time frame.

DRH procedures specify that rapid responding is reinforced, at gradually increasing intervals, until a predetermined mastery criterion is met. Imagine you are playing a competitive game of 5 Second Rule with family over the holidays, where the goal is to name 3 items in an unknown category in 5 seconds or less.

Before the big holiday gathering, you and your partner practice naming 3 items on common lists, in under 5 seconds.
At first your partner is only able to think of one item in 5 seconds - but you have 2 weeks before the party! After dinner you practice together daily, and once your partner has increased their responding and is able to list 2 items per category in 5 seconds or less they receive the best reinforcer of all - a sweet kiss right smack on their cheek!
The next goal for them to get that wonderful smooch is to get 3 items per category in 5 seconds or less.

DRI: Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behaviours

Not all DRA's are DRI's, but DRI's are a type of DRA. This time the alternative behaviour is one that is incompatible with the unwanted behaviour - they cannot occur at the same time.

With our DRA example above, a student can sit at their desk with their hand up and still call out. If the example did not specify that they needed to remain quiet until called upon, and received reinforcement for calling out with their hand up, what did we really accomplish? Another DRI example includes saying "good game" to opposing teams after a game instead of spewing profanities. A person simply cannot say two things at the exact same time.

DRL: Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Behaviour

Providing reinforcement dependent on the response occurring after a specified time frame with no occurrences.

DRL procedures are perfect for when the response is appropriate to have in the learner's repertoire, so you do not want to extinguish it. Imagine having a learner who repeats "hello [name]" every time they see their teacher. This is a behaviour we want to have in their repertoire; however, it is not appropriate if they are saying it every 5 minutes.

The student would only receive reinforcement if they went 5 minutes without repeating "hello", then we gradually increase the time interval until it reaches an appropriate predetermined criterion (e.g., after 2 hours of not seeing the teacher).

DRO: Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviours

Providing reinforcement for the non-occurrence of the unwanted behaviour.

DRO is similar to DRA in that reinforcement is withheld for the unwanted response, but since you cannot provide a reinforcer for a lack of response, another behaviour that is contextually appropriate is reinforced. This does not need to be a specific alternative response.

Check out our YouTube video for an example of how to use a DRO procedure.

DRP: Differential Reinforcement of Paced Responding

Providing reinforcement for behaviour occurring within a minimum and maximum time limit.

DRP is a procedure that is used when the timing of responses is imperative to success. Music teachers, dance choreographers, and others are familiar with the concept of DRP (even if they are not familiar with the label). This is when the timing of responses matter: whether it be chords played on an instrument, movements made by dancers, or number of basketball dribbles per step.

Watch our YouTube video on Differential Reinforcement for more info!

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If I want my partner to cook dinner more often, take out the trash regularly without asking, or make the first pot of coffee in the morning, what is the best way to accomplish this? I could flat out ask them, and for some people that may work.

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Study with Quizlet and memorise flashcards containing terms like Explicitly arranged, Not explicitly arranged, Every response is reinforced and others.