Differential- Reinforcement-of-Other-Behavior Schedules

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Abstract
General aspects of differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DRO) schedules are discussed, and nineteen studies that involved therapeutic applications of such schedules are evaluated along several dimensions. The majority of studies employed retarded children as subjects and successfully reduced some form of aggressive, disruptive, or self-injurious behavior. Tokens and food were the consequences most commonly delivered; these and other stimuli were presented contingent on periods of nonresponding that ranged at maximum across studies from five seconds to eight hours. Nearly half of the rated studies used DRO in conjunction with another response-suppressing operation, while an equal number compared two or more response-deceleration procedures. Only two studies reported data on behaviors other than those actually consequated under the DRO. Overall, the data evaluated indicate that DRO schedules can be a viable technique for reducing undesired behaviors, although the range of conditions under which these schedules have been employed is rather limited, and some confusion apparently exists concerning their operational characteristics.