Differential Reinforcement

DR is an intervention that reinforces one type of behavior while putting all other responses on extinction.

Differential reinforcement uses positive reductive procedures to reduce or eliminate interfering behavior (e.g., tantrums, aggression, self-injury, stereotypes).

General Education and Special Education classrooms:

Gen ed/Sped classrooms all have behaviors that we as educators wish to replace.

DR can be used in all types of classrooms and with all types of students.

Interfering Behavior

Alternate Behavior

DRO-Main goal is to eliminate the interfering behavior

DRL- Main goal is to reduce the interfering behavior

DRI- Main goal is to substitute the interfering behavior

DRA- Main goal is to substitute the interfering behavior

Fixed-ratio

DRO

DRA

Identify the interfering behavior.

Collect data on the behavior.

Determine the function of the behavior.

Teach the alternate behavior.

Collect data on alternate behavior.

Reinforce when appropriate per procedure type.

Re-evaluate after a set time frame to determine if it is working.