Define DRO, DRA, DRI, and DRL, with brief examples.

Define DRO, DRA, DRI, and DRL, with brief examples.

• A. DRO: reinforce the absence of the problem behavior during intervals; DRA: reinforce an alternative behavior; DRI: reinforce a behavior that cannot occur simultaneously with the problem; DRL: reinforce the behavior at a lower rate than baseline.
• B. DRO: punish absence; DRA: punish alternative; DRI: punish; DRL: punish
• C. DRO: reward every occurrence; DRA: reward insufficient; DRI: reduce reinforcement; DRL: increase rate
• D. DRO: punish absence; DRA: reinforcement for problem behavior; DRI: reinforcement of the same behavior

Answer: (A)

These four procedures are differential reinforcement strategies that modify behavior by changing what earns reinforcement rather than by punishing the behavior. In a DRO, reinforcement is delivered for the absence of the problem behavior during a defined interval, and the interval is reset if the problem behavior occurs. For example, giving a token if there’s no shouting for five minutes reinforces staying quiet during that interval. In DRA, you reinforce an alternative, appropriate behavior that serves the same function as the problem behavior, such as reinforcing raising a hand to speak instead of calling out. In DRI, you reinforce a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the problem behavior—an incompatible behavior like sitting quietly with hands folded when the problem is hitting someone. In DRL, reinforcement is provided only if the rate of the problem behavior is below a specified threshold, so the goal is to reduce frequency rather than eliminate it entirely (for example, rewarding fewer than a set number of interruptions per hour). This matches the description of reinforcing absence for DRO, reinforcing an alternative for DRA, reinforcing an incompatible behavior for DRI, and reinforcing a lower rate for DRL.

These four procedures are differential reinforcement strategies that modify behavior by changing what earns reinforcement rather than by punishing the behavior. In a DRO, reinforcement is delivered for the absence of the problem behavior during a defined interval, and the interval is reset if the problem behavior occurs. For example, giving a token if there’s no shouting for five minutes reinforces staying quiet during that interval. In DRA, you reinforce an alternative, appropriate behavior that serves the same function as the problem behavior, such as reinforcing raising a hand to speak instead of calling out. In DRI, you reinforce a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the problem behavior—an incompatible behavior like sitting quietly with hands folded when the problem is hitting someone. In DRL, reinforcement is provided only if the rate of the problem behavior is below a specified threshold, so the goal is to reduce frequency rather than eliminate it entirely (for example, rewarding fewer than a set number of interruptions per hour). This matches the description of reinforcing absence for DRO, reinforcing an alternative for DRA, reinforcing an incompatible behavior for DRI, and reinforcing a lower rate for DRL.