EVALUATING TREATMENT CHALLENGES WITH DIFFERENTIAL REINFORCEMENT OF ALTERNATIVE BEHAVIOR

In prior research, differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) has been implemented at optimal treatment values: Problem behavior is never reinforced, and alternative behavior is always reinforced. However, in application, DRA is unlikely to be conducted optimally. In this study, follow...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied behavior analysis 1999-03, Vol.32 (1), p.9-23
Main Authors: Vollmer, Timothy R., Roane, Henry S., Ringdahl, Joel E., Marcus, Bethany A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aberrant behavior
Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy
Behavioral sciences
Biological and medical sciences
differential reinforcement
functional analysis
Medical sciences
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Therapy
treatment challenges
Treatments
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Summary:In prior research, differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) has been implemented at optimal treatment values: Problem behavior is never reinforced, and alternative behavior is always reinforced. However, in application, DRA is unlikely to be conducted optimally. In this study, following a functional analysis phase and a differential reinforcement at full implementation phase, we challenged initially positive treatment effects for 3 participants by implementing DRA at less than optimal parameters. For example, some occurrences of problem behavior were reinforced, and some occurrences of alternative behavior were not reinforced. Results suggested that when exposed to DRA at full implementation, participants showed a bias toward appropriate behavior in subsequent conditions during which “mistakes” (treatment challenges) were intentionally introduced. In addition, the negative effects of treatment challenges were quickly reversible, in comparison to the positive effects of DRA, which were not quickly reversible in the face of treatment challenges.
ISSN:0021-8855
1938-3703
DOI:10.1901/jaba.1999.32-9