Definitions

1

100

This means anything a person does that can be observed and measured.

Behavior

200

This type of reinforcement involves adding something after a behavior to increase it.

Positive Reinforcement

300

This is a reinforcer that naturally satisfies a biological need, such as food or water.

Primary Reinforcer

400

This differential reinforcement procedure reinforces a behavior that serves the same function as an unwanted behavior.

DRA — Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior

500

This occurs when a learner responds correctly because a particular stimulus signals that reinforcement is available for that response.

Stimulus Control

2

100

This is something that happens before a behavior.

Antecedent

200

This type of reinforcement involves removing something after a behavior to increase it.

Negative Reinforcement

300

This is something that becomes reinforcing because it has been paired with other reinforcers.

Conditioned Reinforcer

400

This procedure reinforces the absence of a target behavior for a specific period of time.

DRO — Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior

500

This involves gradually transferring control from one stimulus or prompt to another.

Stimulus Control Transfer

3

100

This is what happens immediately after a behavior.

Consequence

200

This is the process of measuring how often a behavior occurs.

Frequency

300

This occurs when reinforcement is no longer provided for a previously reinforced behavior.

Extinction

400

This procedure reinforces a behavior when it occurs below a specific rate.

DRL — Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates

500

This teaching method breaks a complex skill into smaller steps and teaches each step in a specific sequence.

Task Analysis

4

100

This increases the future likelihood of a behavior.

Reinforcement

200

This measures how long a behavior lasts.

Duration

300

This is reinforcement given after a set number of responses.

Fixed Ratio

400

This procedure reinforces a behavior when it occurs above a specific rate.

DRH — Differential Reinforcement of High Rates

500

This chaining procedure teaches the first step first, then gradually adds later steps as the learner masters them.

Forward Chaining

5

100

This is something given or taken away to decrease a behavior.

Punishment

200

This measures how long it takes someone to begin a behavior after an instruction or event.

Latency

300

This is reinforcement given after an unpredictable number of responses.

Variable Ratio

400

This procedure reinforces a behavior that is physically incompatible with the problem behavior.

DRI — Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior

500

This is a procedure in which prompts are systematically removed so the learner can respond independently.

Prompt Fading