Differential reinforcement in ABA
Lesson 25 of 36 in RBT Exam Prep. The start plays free here.
- Reinforcement increases behavior
- Some behavior earns reinforcement
- Extinction withholds a reinforcer
- DRA: a specific alternative
- DRI: physically incompatible behavior
- DRO: absence of problem behavior
- FCT: a communication response
- All 43 outline tasks
- 85 questions, 90 minutes
- Explains each wrong answer
Paid once, no subscription. Ask for a refund within 7 days of buying if you’ve done less than 25% of the class.
How the lesson starts
You give a client a toy after they request it. If requesting increases, adding the toy is positive reinforcement.
Differential reinforcement means some behavior earns reinforcement and other behavior does not. Your focus is on what earns reinforcement, not just what you want to stop.
When extinction is included, you also withhold the reinforcer that maintained the problem behavior. That part aims to reduce the problem behavior.
You reinforce asking for a turn instead of grabbing. Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior, or DRA, reinforces a specific alternative behavior.
Then, in the full lesson
- Cannot happen together
- An absent behavior
- Communication replaces behavior
- 2 questions along the way
A question from this lesson
A client claps repeatedly. You reinforce keeping both hands flat on the table. Which procedure fits?
- DRI: reinforce physically incompatible behavior
- DRO: reinforce the absence of clapping
- FCT: teach a replacement communication response
Show the answer
A. DRI: reinforce physically incompatible behavior. DRI fits because hands flat cannot clap. DRO reinforces the absence of problem behavior rather than a specified incompatible response. FCT teaches communication, which this procedure does not.
The full class, $29 once.
Paid once, no subscription. Ask for a refund within 7 days of buying if you’ve done less than 25% of the class.
- All 43 outline tasks
- 85 questions, 90 minutes
- Explains each wrong answer
Passing isn’t guaranteed. Not affiliated with the BACB. Questions are original, written to the published outline.