Define It!
What is positive punishment
adding a stimulus to decrease the likelihood that the behavior will happen in the future
A behavior is followed by removal of a stimulus and decreases in future.
Negative punishment
“I reinforced tantrums by giving the iPad.”
Reinforcement should be contingent on an appropriate behavior like a request.
Describe how you'd use DRA for a child who yells to get attention.
To use Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA), I would identify an appropriate alternative behavior—such as raising their hand or using a communication card to request attention. I would place yelling on extinction (i.e., withhold attention when the child yells) and provide immediate, enthusiastic attention when the child uses the alternative behavior. Reinforcement should be delivered consistently and immediately for the alternative response to strengthen it.
A student is given attention every 5 minutes, regardless of behavior. What intervention is this, and why is it used?
Noncontingent Reinforcement (NCR) – This procedure reduces problem behavior by providing the maintaining reinforcer (in this case, attention) on a time-based schedule, which decreases motivation to engage in the problem behavior.
Define DRO (Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior)
Providing reinforcement to any behavior that is not the target behavior for decrease.
Reinforcement is provided if a behavior does not occur for a set time.
Fixed Interval Schedule of Reinforcement
DRA means I just ignore the behavior.
DRA requires reinforcing an alternative, not just ignoring.
You want to reduce hitting. What DR procedure would you use and why?
I would use Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI) or DRA. For example, I could reinforce behaviors like hands-in-lap or asking for help—actions physically incompatible with hitting. Reinforcement would be delivered only when the incompatible behavior occurs, and hitting would be placed on extinction. This approach is effective because it increases functionally appropriate or physically incompatible behaviors while reducing the problem behavior.
A teacher asks a student to clap, then touch their nose, and then complete a writing task. What’s the name of this strategy and why does it work?
High-Probability Request Sequence (High-p) – It works by building behavioral momentum through a series of easy (high-probability) responses before presenting a more difficult (low-probability) task.
What is non-contingent reinforcement
Providing reinforcement regardless of the behavior occuring
Reinforcement of a specific alternative behavior while problem behavior is on extinction
“Time-out is reinforcement because the student likes being alone.”
Time-out is punishment if it decreases behavior, not if the student enjoys it.
Use NCR with a student who elopes from the classroom.
I would provide the student with regular, noncontingent access to the reinforcer that maintains elopement—often attention or escape. For instance, if escape from work is maintaining elopement, I would schedule brief, time-based breaks (e.g., every 5 minutes) regardless of the student’s behavior. This decreases the motivation to elope by making escape freely available and breaks the contingency between elopement and escape.
A student only earns praise when sitting in their seat, which makes it impossible to simultaneously run around. What’s the name of this reinforcement strategy?
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI) – This reinforces a behavior that cannot occur at the same time as the problem behavior, reducing the undesired behavior through incompatibility.
Explain response cost and how it reduces behavior
a consequence that occurs after a specific behavior as a function of that behavior. It reduces behavior frequency through the principle of negative/positive punishment.
A preferred stimulus is delivered on a time-based schedule regardless of behavior.
NCR
NCR means the student gets a reward every time they behave.”
NCR is not contingent on behavior—it’s delivered on a time-based schedule.
A client rips paper when given work. Design an appropriate antecedent intervention
An appropriate antecedent intervention might include modifying the task to make it more manageable (e.g., reduce length or difficulty), using a high-probability request sequence to increase compliance momentum, or providing choice in work materials or location. I could also prime the client by warning them before work starts and providing reinforcement for task engagement. These strategies reduce the aversiveness of the demand and prevent the behavior from occurring.
A student has to clean up an entire classroom after tearing one paper. What punishment procedure is this and how is it defined?
Restitutional Overcorrection – A type of positive punishment in which the learner must not only correct the consequence of their misbehavior, but do so in an exaggerated or extended way to reduce future occurrences.
What is overcorrection? What are the two types
A consequence where a more effortful response is required that relates to the problem behavior in some way. Restitutional and Positive Practice.
A learner loses access to a reinforcer after problem behavior.
Response Cost
“I use overcorrection by scolding them to fix it.”
Overcorrection requires the learner to rehearse the correct response, not just receive a reprimand.
Implement DRO for inappropriate jokes during group lessons.
I would implement a time-based Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO) schedule. For example, I might set a 5-minute interval during which, if the student refrains from making inappropriate jokes, they receive reinforcement (e.g., points, praise, or a preferred activity). If a joke occurs, the interval resets. This strengthens periods of appropriate group participation while reducing the target behavior without reinforcing an alternative behavior directly.
A behavior analyst interviews a teacher, observes the student, and reviews ABC data to find out why the student throws objects. What is this process?
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) – A systematic method to identify the environmental variables maintaining a behavior and guide intervention development.